Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union announced a significant financial move through a player trade involving midfielder Daniel Gazdag. The club has secured a guaranteed $4,000,000 from Columbus Crew as part of the transaction, with the potential for an additional $500,000 if specific performance metrics are met.

Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner, spoke highly of Gazdag’s time with the club, stating, “Daniel’s contributions to the club have been invaluable." Tanner further explained that this move benefits both the club and the player by providing financial flexibility for roster improvements while allowing Gazdag to explore new opportunities in his career. "We know Daniel will continue to find great success, and we wish him nothing but the best," Tanner added.

Daniel Gazdag leaves a notable legacy with the Union as the club’s all-time leading scorer. In his MLS career, Gazdag accumulated 59 goals, 31 assists, and played 10,007 minutes across 125 appearances. During the 2022 regular season, he achieved career highs in games and goals. His journey with Philadelphia began on May 11, 2021, following his time with Budapest Honved FC in Hungary's top league.

Internationally, Gazdag has represented Hungary across various age levels and made his senior team debut against Montenegro in 2019, scoring four goals in international competitions.

The trade was enabled by a new rule introduced in January 2025, allowing clubs to exchange players using out-of-pocket cash without needing general allocation money. This gives clubs more flexibility in acquiring talent within the league.