Chester – The Philadelphia Union announced their club roster profiles yesterday following the MLS roster compliance deadline on Friday, Feb. 2. They also revealed that local Lebanon native Nelson Pierre, the older brother of Neil Pierre, has been sent out on loan yet again ahead of the 2025 season.

Pierre graduated from the YSC Academy and came up through the Union academy ranks. In February 2023, he became the 20th player in Union history to sign a Homegrown contract.

During the 2023 season, Pierre played for Union II, registering four goals and four assists in 28 appearances. However, he never broke through to the first team.

In 2024, he was loaned to Skövde AIK, where he made three appearances and played just 102 minutes in the Svenska Cupen. The Union later recalled him from loan and sent him to USL League One side Charlotte Independence, where he appeared in nine games and scored one goal.

Pierre has also represented Haiti, appearing in all three matches of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in July 2024.

A move to MLS NEXT Pro with a mid-table club that scored 45 total goals last season could provide Pierre with the opportunity to reboot his development and professional career.

Regarding the club roster profiles, the Union announced theirs yesterday and have opted for a three-designated player (DP) roster build, meaning they get three DP slots and three U-22 Initiative roster spots. They begin the season with a roster of 26 players.

Looking at the roster breakdown, Mikael Uhre, Bruno Damiani, and Dániel Gazdag occupy the club’s DP spots, with Damiani being named a young DP. Quinn Sullivan and Olwethu Makhanya occupy two U-22 Initiative spots, with one remaining open should the club decide to use it.

Eddy Davis, Sal Olivas, Nelson Pierre, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield occupy the off-roster Homegrown spots, meaning they are allowed six call-ups to the first team before they must be added to the supplemental roster.

Nick Pariano is in the supplemental roster’s 31st spot, meaning he can also be called up six times. However, it is noted that he is on loan. He was at training yesterday, so perhaps he will be loaned again this season to Union II or another club.

It’s important to note that clubs will conditionally have the opportunity to update their roster construction model at midseason—between July 1, 2025, and the close of the secondary transfer window on Aug. 21—if they choose.

Main Photo Credit Philadelphia Union II