A new season is just around the corner with the Boys in Blue getting set to kick off preseason training in just a few weeks. Before the 2022 squad gets together, we know what number the recently acquired Julián Carranza will be rocking for Philadelphia Union.
Carranza joins the Union on loan from Inter Miami CF in exchange for a natural second round pick in the MLS SuperDraft 2022 presented by adidas. The 21-year-old currently occupies a Young Designated Player spot and is on loan with the Union through the end of the year with an option to make the loan permanent.
The No. 9 kit is a special one in Philadelphia with Ring of Honoree Sebastien Le Toux most notably wearing the number as he set the club's all-time scoring and assist records. Fafa Picault also wore the Union No. 9 for a pair of season and racked up an impressive 14 goals and 9 assists. Other memorable Union alumni to have the number include Charlie Davies, Jack McInerney (20 goals and three assists in two seasons) and Andrew Wenger (six goals and four assists.)
Carranza signed with Inter Miami CF in July 2019 from Club Atletico Banfield in the top Argentine league, Primera Division. He became one of the first two players ever signed by Miami. In his two seasons with Miami, he has scored three goals in 41 matches (11 starts). He recorded his first Major League Soccer brace in a 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC on August 22, 2020.
At 13 years old Carranza moved to Buenos Aires to play for Banfield Academy, eventually joining their senior team where he played 48 matches, registering 11 goals and two assists in that time.
Internationally, Carranza has been called up to Argentina’s U-17 and U-23 National Team and scored his first goal in the U-23’s friendly against Colombia in September 2019.
