Union announce signing of Dániel Gazdag to two-year contract with two options

The Philadelphia Union made official their big signing with the announcement Tuesday morning of a two-year contract with two club options for Hungarian international attacker Daniel Gazdag.

The 25-year-old has scored 13 goals and notched six assists across 30 appearances this season.

“He is a versatile player who can play multiple positions in the midfield as well as at striker and has the ability to make an immediate impact,” Sporting Director Ernst Tanner said in the news release. “His aggressive style of play has made him a top finisher in the Hungarian league and a good fit for our system.”

The transfer fee paid to Budapest Honvéd FC was undisclosed but it’s reportedly the second most the team has ever paid for a player at $1.8 million after acquiring designated player Jamiro Monteiro last year for just under $2 million.

He will occupy an international spot on the roster, giving the Union a full allotment of nine — they acquired the ninth spot for $200,000 in allocation money from Sporting Kansas City last month — with a 10th international Matej Oravec currently not on the active roster.

Though the news release makes no mention of Gazdag being a designated player it also doesn’t mention any targeted allocation money being used for the acquisition, which is still pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.

Given delays in acquiring visas since the pandemic began and the upcoming European Championship, it’s unclear when Gazdag will be available for selection by head coach Jim Curtin. He’s part of the Hungary national team’s European Championship roster and they open group play on June 15 against Portugal.

Internationally, Gazdag made a combined 17 appearances for the Hungary U17, U18, U20 and U21 national team squads. He made his debut for the men’s national team in a friendly vs. Montenegro on September 5, 2019. Since then, he has earned a total of six caps, and recently netted his first international goal in a 4-1 victory over Andorra la Vella in a World Cup Qualifier on March 31, 2021.