Yosef Samuel signs pro contract with Bethlehem Steel FC

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Yosef Samuel made his Bethlehem Steel FC debut on Sunday afternoon as the club’s latest signing.

Samuel, 19, subbed into the match in the 62nd minute against Orlando City B. Steel FC lost 2-0.

The Atlanta native spent two seasons with the Union U18 team after joining the Academy from Gwinnet Soccer Association in 2014. He scored 10 goals in 37 appearances and 26 starts.

He’s been called up twice this season to the United States Men’s National Team U20s, most recently for a training camp in North Jersey back in August.

While he’s spent time training with the first team, earning minutes in preseason earlier this year, Samuel never featured for Steel FC as an Academy player as several others have done this season.

Current Academy players Justin McMaster and Mark McKenzie both started in Sunday’s match. Anthony Fontana came off the bench in the match for his eighth appearance of the season.

Bethlehem Steel FC coach Brendan Burke confirmed to Brotherly Game that Samuel signed with the team last week. Samuel’s signing marks the second player from the Philadelphia Union Academy to sign a pro contract with the team. Derrick Jones was the first ever signing to the club out of the Academy last year and he’s since signed a first-team contract.