Former Philadelphia Union homegrown Anthony Fontana signs with Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Anthony Fontana will be reuniting with former teammates Zach Zandi and James Chambers in Colorado Springs after signing on with the defending USL Championship title holders for the 2025 season.

Fontana played with Switchbacks’ head coach Chambers and Zandi for the Bethlehem Steel in 2019. The Newark, Del. native signed a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union in 2018 and had the option to return for the 2022 season but opted to head to Serie B in Italy where he found playing time even more limited before a stint with PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie.

“Football is an up and down sport, at every low there was always one person that always had my back, that was [Switchbacks Head Coach] James Chambers,” Fontana said in a news release. “I can’t wait to fight for him and the club.”

The former Penn Fusion and Union Academy standout made 10 appearances and logged 350 minutes of playing time in the Netherlands but recently mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the club. Prior to competing in the top-flight in the Netherlands, Fontana logged just 18 minutes in three appearances for Ascoli Calcio in Italy’s Serie B.

“I’m extremely excited about joining and helping the team try to repeat what was accomplished last season,” Fontana said.

Fontana scored in his MLS debut for the Union as an 18-year-old in 2018 and went on to score 11 more times in 51 first team appearances, logging 1,446 minutes in all competitions over four seasons. He had just one goal and a pair of assists in 3,425 minutes logged in the USL Championship with Bethlehem Steel, the Union’s second team but flashed technical prowess and creativity in the final third.

“We needed to adjust, improve, and try to build on our midfield success from last year. Anthony ticks all those boxes and more,” said Switchbacks Sporting Director Stephen Hogan, a former Bethlehem Steel/Union II assistant coach. “He is hungry to get back on the field and show everyone who he is.”