Chester, Pa. – Philadelphia Union announced today the acquisition of Uruguayan forward Bruno Damiani from Nacional of the Uruguayan Primera División.

The acquisition comes at a record-breaking transfer fee for the club. Damiani is guaranteed through 2028, with an option for 2029. The record deal is a 3.4 million dollar transfer. The Uruguayan international most recently helped lead Nacional in earning their first Supercopa title since 2021. Damiani will be added to the Union’s active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa and will occupy an international roster slot per the Union’s press report.

“Bruno is the exact type of player that we have been looking to add to our striker unit,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “He is a tall, physical striker with a proven ability to dominate and be a danger in the final third. Along with his size and strength, he is a clinical finisher and is relentless on the attack. We look forward to getting him integrated quickly and seeing his impact on the pitch.”

The transfer fee for Damiani, which surpasses forward Mikael Uhre’s 2022 deal of $2.55 million, is the highest in club history.

The 22-year-old, who turns 23 in April 2025, made his debut in the Uruguayan Primera División in 2023 with Nacional. He played 20 games, recording two goals and one assist. In 2024, he was loaned to Boston River, where he continued to develop.

During his 2024 loan stint with Boston River, Damiani had a breakout season, scoring 13 goals and providing four assists in 34 matches. He also accumulated eight yellow cards and two red cards.

Internationally, Damiani has one cap with the Uruguayan national team. He made his debut in May 2024 against Costa Rica, playing 79 minutes and completing 71% of his passes.

What Does This Mean for the Rest of the Union’s Forward Line in 2025?

Let’s take a look at the current state of the roster now that Damiani is in the fold:

Mikael Uhre: Entering his option year in 2025, Uhre has scored 36 goals over three seasons. While he has drawn criticism from Union fans, his 2024 numbers were similar to his 2022 campaign. His future remains uncertain, but as the club’s first major investment in a striker, it’s fair to say that with Bruno now in the fold, his time in Philadelphia may be coming to an end.

Markus Anderson: Under contract through 2026, with club options for 2027 and 2028. He has logged 92 minutes across three MLS regular-season matches but made a strong impact with Union II, leading them to the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference final in 2024. His pressing style fits what Bradley Carnell wants to do, but injuries in 2024 also held him back at times. A healthy season and more playing time will only benefit his development.

Tai Baribo: Under contract through 2025, with a club option for 2026. His rise after Julian Carranza’s departure has been special for Union fans. Baribo recorded 16 goals and two assists in 27 matches in 2024 and won the Golden Boot in the Leagues Cup.

Eddy Davis: His potential is undeniable. Jillian Almoney recently wrote an article on his journey. The question remains: Will he be loaned out, or will he find himself stuck with Union II?

Chris Donovan: Donovan is a solid hold-up striker, but he is a cheap option off the bench and has flashed at times, though inconsistently. He has never really found a footing with the club. Could he be loaned out or sold outright? That’s something to keep an eye on.

However, for some of the homegrown players that were just signed Ernst Tanner made it clear where those players stand on the roster, “It was always clearly agreed that they get their minutes in the second team.”

For those curious about the skill and play of Bruno Damiani, I encourage you to check out this YouTube video from Osório Football – OzzyFutComps, which highlights Bruno from 2024 during his time at Boston River.

How soon Damiani’s impact will be felt remains to be seen. Some players take more time than others to find their footing, as we all know in MLS. But as he integrates into the team, if he begins to play like he did at Boston River, don’t be shocked to see him start over someone like Uhre, whose contract ends at the end of the season. At the very least, the Union now have a solid third option coming off the bench.

If you want more thoughts on this move, Todd Lewis and Jose Nunez had a wonderful discussion about it on The Free Kick Podcast, where they really delved into what this move means for the club moving forward. Jose also shared some interviews from Bruno himself prior to his arrival in Philadelphia.

For now, Bruno Damiani is officially with the Philadelphia Union, upgrading the forward position. Fans should be excited that the Union are addressing the team’s needs and paying for the position as well. It will be curious to see how this move pans out, which we will discuss more in the next episode of The One Team We Agree On.

Main article photo credit: Philadelphia Union