Andre Blake graduates Generation adidas program

Major League Soccer released a list of six players who graduated from its Generation adidas program, and unsurprisingly Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake was on the list. The other players that graduated the program were: Christian Dean of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Marlon Hairston of the Colorado Rapids, Damion Lowe and Cristian Roldan of the Seattle Sounders, Romario Williams of the Montreal Impact, and Schillo Tshuma, who last played with the Portland Timbers in 2015.

There was some good news for the Union, as Josh Yaro and Fabian Herbers both will remain in the program for the 2017 season. Other players that will be part of the program next season are Alex Bono of Toronto FC, Conor Donovan and Richmond Layrea of Orlando City SC, Julian Buescher of D.C. United, Jack Harrison of New York City FC, Omar Holness of Real Salt Lake, and Andrew Tarbell of the San Jose Earthquakes.

The main concern however for the Union should be Andre Blake. Blake had a spectacular 2016 season with the Union, and speculation is high that he could be heading abroad to ply his trade. This development means that the Union will have to offer Blake a contract as well as pay the full amount of his salary (Generation adidas contracts do not count toward the Salary Cap). The Union will also need to protect him in the upcoming Expansion Draft.