The 2022 Philadelphia Union season was the club's thirteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team is managed by Jim Curtin, his ninth season with the club. The club's regular season began on February 26, 2022, and concluded on October 9. Outside of MLS, the Union also competed in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, entering in the Round of 32.
The club finished second in the Supporters' Shield standings and first in the Eastern Conference. The Union appeared in their first MLS Cup, where they lost to Shield winners Los Angeles FC in a penalty shootout.
Background
Ahead of the 2022 season, the Union saw major front office departures; technical director, Chris Albright was hired as the new general manager of FC Cincinnati, and later assistant coach, Pat Noonan was announced as their new head coach. In January, former player and academy coach, Ryan Richter was promoted to assistant coach of the first team under Jim Curtin.
By mid-January, the Union had announced new contract agreements for starting centerbacks Jakob Glesnes and Jack Elliott, keeping both with the club through the 2024 season.
Ernst Tanner identified that part of the Union's offseason priorities were improving the forward/striker position. The first move for a new forward saw Julián Carranza, a young DP from Inter Miami CF, to be signed on loan for the 2022 season. In January, the Union traded their leading scorer (and 2021 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot winner), Kacper Przybyłko to the Chicago Fire FC for $1.15 million in allocation money. The outbound Przybyłko made way for the Union's marquee offseason signing in Danish Superliga Golden Boot winner, Mikael Uhre, to a three-year contract as a designated player. Signing Uhre broke the Union's transfer fee record reportedly at $2.8 million. In February, the Union traded designated player midfielder, Jamiro Monteiro, to the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $450,000 and an international roster spot for the 2022 season.
The Union traded away or passed on all picks for the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, being the fourth consecutive season doing so. Continuing to sign young players through the Union's academy, left-back, Anton Sorenson, was officially signed to the first team as a homegrown player in January. Previously Sorenson had been granted an emergency hardship call-up for the 2021 Eastern Conference final in December.
2022 roster
Transfers
In DateNo.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesSource January 24, 2022 24 DF Anton Sorenson Philadelphia Union II Homegrown signing January 27, 2022 7 FW Mikael Uhre Brøndby $2,800,000; signed as DP June 17, 2022 25 FW Chris Donovan Philadelphia Union II Waivers July 13, 2022 9 FW Julián Carranza Inter Miami CF $500,000 in GAM August 2, 2022 21 MF Richard Odada Red Star Belgrade Free Agent August 4, 2022 17 DF Abasa Aremeyaw MŠK Žilina $220,000 August 23, 2022 14 MF Jeremy Rafanello New York Red Bulls II Homegrown signing
Out DateNo.Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesSource December 8, 2021 7 FW Matheus Davó Corinthians Declined Contract Option 21 MF Anthony Fontana Ascoli Declined bona fide offer 25 MF Ilsinho Retired Out of contract 29 DF Alvas Powell FC Cincinnati Out of contract 78 DF Aurélien Collin Retired Out of contract, later retired January 22, 2022 23 FW Kacper Przybyłko Chicago Fire FC $1,150,000 GAM February 14, 2022 10 MF Jamiro Monteiro San Jose Earthquakes Up to $450,000 GAM, International roster spot July 7, 2022 14 MF Jack de Vries Venezia Transfer July 7, 2022 24 MF Matej Oravec Železiarne Podbrezová Mutual Termination July 8, 2022 17 FW Sérgio Santos FC Cincinnati Up to $625,000 GAM July 20, 2022 4 DF Stuart Findlay Oxford United FC Undisclosed
Loan In DateNo.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromFee/notesSourceDecember 23, 2021 9 FW Julián Carranza Inter Miami CF Loan with option to purchase; signed as Young DP
Loan Out DateNo.Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesSourceApril 21, 2021 24 MF Matej Oravec FK Železiarne Podbrezová Loaned out through summer 2022 August 31, 2021 14 MF Jack de Vries Venezia F.C. Loaned out through summer 2022
Competitions
Preseason The Union's preseason fixtures were announced in January to be held during their preseason training in Clearwater, Florida.
Major League Soccer
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Results
MLS Cup Playoffs
MLS Cup
U.S. Open Cup
Statistics
Appearances and goals Last updated February 9, 2023
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Forwards
References