Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union has confirmed the signing of a new contract with defender Olivier Mbaizo. The agreement ensures that Mbaizo, aged 27, will remain with the team until 2026, with additional options extending through 2027 and 2028.

"Olivier has been a consistent contributor to our backline since joining us in 2018," stated Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. "His speed and agility, along with his increasingly accurate passing percentage, continue to make him a valuable asset to the team and we are happy to have come to an agreement."

In the 2024 season, Mbaizo participated in 21 matches for the Union, starting in 12 of them. He recorded two assists and achieved a career-high pass accuracy rate of 82.1%, completing 340 out of 414 passes successfully. Notably, on June 19, he registered his 12th career MLS assist and marked his 100th MLS appearance against FC Cincinnati. This milestone made him the club's 18th player to reach such a record. During this year's Leagues Cup campaign, Mbaizo played in all but one match, contributing significantly as the team advanced to the semifinals.

Mbaizo joined Philadelphia Union in 2018 and initially developed his skills with Bethlehem Steel (now known as Philadelphia Union II) before becoming integral to the team's defense strategy. On an international level, he has earned recognition with Cameroon by obtaining 14 caps and was included in Cameroon's final squad for the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar in 2022—an achievement marking him as the first active Union player selected for a World Cup team.

The transaction officially records that Philadelphia Union signed Olivier Mbaizo on November 21, securing his position through at least three more seasons.