Philadelphia Union trio make TopDrawerSoccer top 50 MLS Prospects list

The Philadelphia Union’s three homegrown players are among the top 50 prospects in Major League Soccer, according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Defender Auston Trusty is ranked No. 22, midfielder Derrick Jones is No. 32 and rookie midfielder Adam Najem ranks 39th on a list of players born in 1994 or after and acquired via the homegrown mechanism or through the MLS SuperDraft. Only players who have played 500 or fewer minutes in MLS were considered.

Minnesota United forward Abu Danladi, the top draft pick out of UCLA also tops the list, followed by 18-year-old New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams and D.C. United homegrown midfielder Ian Harkes.

Downingtown, Pa. native and former Philadelphia Union youth and FC Delco goalkeeper Zack Steffen comes in at No. 20. Steffen was just named Columbus Crew’s starting goalkeeper on Thursday.

While the rankings and scouting reports on each of the players are behind a paywall, the list of players (in alphabetical order) and explanation of the methodology can be found here.

While Trusty and Jones were regulars at Bethlehem Steel FC at season neither has played a minute in MLS. Jones made his first team debut in a friendly against Crystal Palace FC. The Union acquired Najem’s homegrown rights from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2018.