Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union announced a significant financial acquisition from Columbus Crew following the transfer of midfielder Daniel Gazdag. The deal guarantees the club $4 million, with the possibility of an additional $500,000 contingent on performance metrics.

"Las contribuciones de Daniel al club han sido invaluables", said Ernst Tanner, the Sporting Director of Philadelphia Union. He praised Gazdag's performance and acknowledged the impact of the player on the team's success. Tanner emphasized the importance of the financial flexibility gained from the transaction and expressed confidence in other players stepping into Gazdag's role.

Gazdag, the club's top scorer, broke records during his tenure with the team. He played five regular seasons from 2021 to 2025, achieving 59 goals, 31 assists, and contributing significantly in both regular and playoff games. Gazdag, who started his MLS career with the Union in May 2021, excelled especially in the 2022 season, marking career highs with 22 goals. His international career includes matches for various Hungarian national youth teams and the senior national team, debuting in 2019 against Montenegro.

The transaction takes advantage of a new MLS rule allowing clubs to exchange cash for player transfers, inspired by traditional transfer fees. This rule, introduced in January 2025, permits clubs to trade players without utilizing general allocation money or other assets, instead enabling the use of private funds.