Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union has announced the signing of Neil Pierre, a 17-year-old defender from Union II and the United States Youth National Team (USYNT), to a Homegrown player contract. The agreement extends through 2028, with an option for 2029. Pierre becomes the 26th Homegrown player in the club's history.

"Following a standout season with Union II, we are happy to be able to reward Neil with a first team contract," said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. "His combination of size, speed, and defensive strength makes him a great asset to our backline. As a young, dynamic center back with immense potential, we look forward to continuing and supporting his development."

Pierre made his debut in Major League Soccer NEXT Pro on July 25, 2023, after signing an MLS NEXT Pro contract on July 20 of that year. He played an essential role in leading the league's youngest squad to become Eastern Conference Champions for the first time in club history during the 2024 season. Over 22 regular-season appearances, including 20 starts, he helped Union II concede the fifth-fewest goals in the league and completed 495 passes with a 73.7% accuracy rate.

In addition to his contributions at the club level, Pierre has represented various levels of USYNT. He earned his first call-up to the U18 team for an international tournament in Japan on September 6, 2024. Earlier that year, he was selected for the U19 team on March 15. In previous years, he also captained the U16 squad against the Netherlands at the International Dream Cup.

The transaction details confirm that Philadelphia Union signed defender Neil Pierre on February 4, 2025.