Philadelphia Union finalizing Mark McKenzie deal, USMNT defender to join from Toulouse in January

The Philadelphia Union are finalizing a deal to sign U.S. national team center back Mark McKenzie from FC Toulouse in January, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.

McKenzie is in the final year of his contract and Toulouse made it clear they would not let the player leave this summer, so the clubs found a compromise for a winter move.

The Union will pay a fee in the region of $2.5 million for the USMNT defender, sources say. McKenzie will be a designated player for the Union.

McKenzie, 27, is a product of the Union’s academy and made 59 first-team appearances before being transferred to Belgian side Genk in 2021. He moved to Toulouse in 2024 and remains a key player and leader for the club, hence the French team’s reluctance to let him go this summer.

The center back has 30 caps for the USMNT and was part of the World Cup squad this summer.

The Union started slow this season but has come on strong this summer, with the club getting back to its roots of high-pressing and youth development. The club already re-signed key defender Kai Wagner and now are closing in on a deal to bring McKenzie back to the team.

Toulouse has been approached for comment.

Why have the Union targeted McKenzie?

Philly sees McKenzie as a foundational piece for the team moving forward and, while they pushed hard to sign him this summer, ultimately were content to wait until the winter to make sure they got their guy.

The Union moved on from former MLS Defender of the Year Jakob Glesnes this winter (LA Galaxy) and South Africa international Olwethu Makhanya this summer (Rangers). They have been light at center back with typical fullback Nathan Harriel has been filling in while 18-year-old USYNT talent Neil Pierre has excelled since returning from a loan this summer.

Pierre can partner McKenzie for as long as the teenager is at the club. After seeing Lucas Herrington transfer to Premier League team Hull City from the Colorado Rapids for up to $23 million, his time in MLS may not be much longer.

That’s the Union’s philosophy: Develop young players and sell them abroad. They have been at their best when having a handful of consistent, high-level veterans to help guide the young players along. McKenzie benefitted from it himself when he broke through.

McKenzie, Kai Wagner and Andre Blake in defense will make it easier for any young center back coming through in the future beyond Pierre. Midfielders Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques make it a little easier for Cavan Sullivan in the attack. In the future, perhaps another in-prime forward comes to take the attack to another level.

For now, the Union are thrilled to be closing in on a move to bring McKenzie back to the club in his prime. He is one of the league’s few DP center backs (and Wagner is the only DP left back) but with new salary cap rules on the horizon, hopefully as soon as next summer, the club should retain a ton of flexibility.