The center back from Lebanon, PA has signed a first team contract after a stellar 2024 with Union II.

The Philadelphia Union announced today that 17 year old center back Neil Pierre, a 6’5″ standout defender who helped Union II all the way to the MLS Next Pro Cup in 2024, has signed a homegrown contract through 2028 with an option for 2029.

With Union II in 2024, Pierre made 22 regular season appearances (20 starts) for 1,828 minutes, as well as playing the entirety of the postseason games. He has played at the national team level representing the United States at the U15, U16, U18, and U19 levels, including the 26th International Youth Football Tournament in Niigata, Japan with the U18s on September 6, 2024.

With the departure of Jack Elliott, some room has opened up for Pierre to get a chance with the first team. He paired well with Olwethu Makhanya with Union II, and it remains to be seen if Makhanya will also get some time with the first team as he has yet to make his debut after signing a U-22 Initiative contract in 2023. Pierre has certainly shown awareness on the field with strong defense and great accuracy on long balls, and it will be interesting to see how the defensive structure plays out with the first team.

From the Union’s press release:

“Following a standout season with Union II, we are happy to be able to reward Neil with a first team contract,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “His combination of size, speed, and defensive strength makes him a great asset to our backline. As a young, dynamic center back with immense potential, we look forward to continuing and supporting his development.”

This writer’s opinion: As someone who has covered Union II extensively, Neil is the real deal. He is young and has plenty to learn, but Union fans should be excited to see what he can do. Want to know more about Neil? We had him on our podcast last season, so if you missed it, it is worth checking out.

Main article photo credit: Philadelphia Union II