TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Re-signing
The Philadelphia Union have signed Mark McKenzie to a new contract, the club announced Thursday.
The Homegrown defender originally signed in 2018, but will now remain under contract through the 2022 season with club options for 2023 and 2024.
"We’re excited to have come to an agreement on a new contract with Mark, solidifying his spot on our team. As a homegrown player, he exemplifies our commitment to the development of our academy players,” Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a statement. “Mark has become a proven asset on and off the field. Through his development, he’s become a valuable center back who sees everything in front of him and is an emerging role model in the community.”
The 20-year-old center back became a regular starter in his rookie season, starting 18 of the 19 matches he appeared in during the 2018 season. After early-season injuries, McKenzie made seven regular-season appearances, with six starts, and contributed to the club’s history-making season and first-ever playoff win.
McKenzie, who came up through the Union’s academy, captained the US squad at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland last year, has received back-to-back USMNT January camp call-ups and trained with the U-23 team in October.
