While it may be doom, gloom, and disappointment around the first team at the moment, Union II sit atop the MLS Next Pro power rankings as they showcase their young talent.

If you haven’t been paying attention to MLS Next Pro and the Union’s second team full of young up-and-comers, here is a roundup of why you should, and some of the latest from the squad. The Philadelphia Union has been known for its strong academy and player development, and while head coach Marlon LeBlanc stresses the importance of development in these young players, they are getting results and rank first in the Eastern conference, third overall, and first in the power rankings as of Matchweek 16. No, playing at MLS Next Pro level is not the same as playing in MLS, but amongst their peers- and by the way, they are the overall youngest squad at their level according to LeBlanc- they are enjoying a level of success that is no accident.

Between what I have seen from watching the matches, talking to Coach LeBlanc and players, and attending Union II training, the group is special. They are cohesive and believe in each other while having the skills necessary to dominate on the field. If you’re a Phillies fan, you know that a big part of their success this season is the team dynamic is not just positive, they are a brotherhood. The same can be said for Union II. Coach LeBlanc and his staff demand the best from their players while keeping them grounded as the accolades accumulate. I asked him about this at training on Friday:

The squad has to face the same team multiple times in a short span in some cases, and much can be learned during that time. The squad is also very fluid as some players get called up to the first team, first team players come down, some leave for periods of time for competitions at various levels, and academy players/U17 joining in and being integrated. Coach LeBlanc described some of these challenges:

Eddy Davis and Frankie Westfield on the rise

After scoring a brace on 6/30 versus Toronto FC II and a goal versus New York Red Bulls II on 6/26, 18 year old striker Eddy Davis earned “Player of the Matchweek” and has been twice named MLS Next Pro Rising Star of the Month. He has 8 goals on the season and shows no signs of slowing down. Coach LeBlanc spoke highly of Eddy:

On our most recent podcast episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Eddy on his background and experiences up until this point. He comes from an accomplished family, with both parents having competed in the Olympics in track, and his grandfather, Jerry Manuel, was a manager in MLB. His family has been a great support system, and he also spoke highly of Coach LeBlanc. The Los Angeles native started with LAFC’s program and later went to Red Bulls, who saw him as a defender. Eddy saw himself as a striker, and eventually made the move to Philadelphia, where they also saw him as a striker. He touted the strength of the program and track record as big reasons for making the switch. So far, it has proven to be the perfect fit. I spoke with him at training on Friday as a follow up from our podcast episode:

On Friday it was announced that defender and co-captain Frankie Westfield, who had earlier committed to playing at Penn State, signed an MLS Next Pro professional contract. Coach LeBlanc, in the press release from Union II, stated:

“Frankie has been a key part to our team’s success this year and we’re happy to reward him with his first professional contract. He has proven himself to be a leader as one of our captains and has made great strides in developing into a two-way player who’s aggressive and impactful on the field.”

The 18 year old Philadelphia native is a workhorse at the left back position and a leader within the team as a co-captain with Kyle Tucker. He currently has tallied 4 goals on the season, second only to Eddy Davis. We also spoke with him this season on a podcast episode, where he shared his journey thus far and insights into the team.

Other notable players to keep an eye on

Photos courtesy of Philadelphia Union II

Much has been covered about 14 year old phenom Cavan Sullivan, who has risen quickly to a deal with the first team and future with Manchester City. While he has yet to make a first team debut, he has been consistently featuring with Union II, including a couple starts. Some players have been called up for first team opportunities, but have been mostly featuring with Union II. Most recently, CJ Olney and David Vazquez were called up to the first team, with CJ subbing into the home game versus Charlotte as homegrown keeper Andrew Rick made his debut in goal.

Olwethu Makhanya and Sanders Ngabo have been on the first team bench, but have yet to feature and have been doing solid work with Union II. We also spoke earlier this year with center back Neil Pierre on the podcast, who is making a name for himself after helping the U17s win the GA Cup this year. If you haven’t checked the podcast episodes out, they are a great way to get to know these young players. Finally, players like Leandro Soria and Sal Olivas are providing goals and quality play with Union II. Don’t take our word for it, though… get down to Subaru Park or catch them streaming on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+ or mlsnextpro.com depending on the game. Their next game is Saturday 7/6 at New England Revolution II, followed by a home game on Thursday 7/11 at home versus Chattanooga.