Philadelphia Union defender Neil Pierre has been named the first-ever recipient of MLS NEXT Pro Defender of the Year, the league announced on Thursday.
The 18-year-old not only becomes the first to win the honor but becomes the third Union II player to earn an MLS NEXT Pro year-end award. Pierre, a promising academy product turned Union Homegrown, has proved himself to be one of the most impactful players in the league, leading his team to new heights in 2025.
Towering above most at six-foot-five, the Lebanon, Pennsylvania native anchored one of the league’s best backlines, helping the team finish second in the Eastern Conference and set multiple club records, including most goals scored (64), second fewest goals allowed (34), and best goal differential (+30) in the league. His consistency and leadership were key to Union II’s historic campaign, guiding the team to its fourth consecutive postseason appearance as one of only two clubs to qualify for the playoffs in all four MLS NEXT Pro seasons.
2025 marked Pierre’s third season on the MLS NEXT Pro stage, this year starting all 20 matches he played in for a total of 1592 minutes. Amidst his momentous season, Pierre often trained with Philadelphia Union’s first team, learning alongside defensive greats like Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner. He made his MLS debut on September 13th against Vancouver Whitecaps, playing 20 minutes in the team’s Western Conference away contest.
The Defender of the Year honor is well-deserved, and it adds another highlight to Pierre's already successful career. From securing back-to-back Generation adidas Cup victories with the Philadelphia Union Academy, to winning the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference Final at Subaru Park with Union II, Pierre’s resume is ever-growing, but the best is yet to come. The kid who climbed the club’s Pathway to the Pros all the way to the first team is signed with the club through 2028 with an option for 2029.
