Brandan Craig loaned to El Paso Locomotive FC of USL Championship for all of 2024 Season

After an unsuccessful loan spell in 2023, Philadelphia Union is sending Brandan Craig back out on loan, this time to USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC. The 19-year-old Central Defender has appeared just one time for the Union’s first team, registering three minutes at the end of a 7-0 win over D.C. United back in July of 2022.

Craig recently went on trial at Premier League club Everton and has been training away from the Union since returning stateside.

Despite just one senior appearance, Craig has had a plentiful youth career, with 38 appearances for Philadelphia Union II and an additional 17 for the United States U20 and U23 teams, tallying four goals and six assists for both club and country.

Craig spent the second half of the 2023 MLS season on loan with Austin FC, where he did not play a single minute for either the senior team or MLS Next Pro Cup Champions, Austin FC II. Austin reportedly paid a fee of around $125,000 to complete the move.

El Paso will take Craig on loan through the end of the season, as the deal has no option for an early recall. Craig has already been training with El Paso, where former Philadelphia Union player Cole Turner also spent time on loan, appearing nine times in 2021 for the Texas club.

Craig is now the third active Philadelphia Union player out on loan, joining Nelson Pierre and Richard Odada.