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Brandan Craig joining CF Montreal for preseason training camp

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Photo by Carl Gulbish

Philadelphia native Brandan Craig’s search for playing time in MLS has led him to a team north of the border.

The 20-year-old center back is an invite to CF Montreal’s preseason training camp in Tampa. Craig spent last season on loan with El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship and was in talks to return to the Philadelphia Union after his option was declined.

Craig was signed to the first team as a homegrown player in November 2020 but outside of a 3-minute cameo in 2022 was not able to crack the lineup under former head coach Jim Curtin. He was loaned out in 2023 to Austin FC but didn’t play and then was sent to El Paso for the 2024 season. He made 19 appearances and logged 1,405 minutes for the Locomotive. He also played in the USL Championship with Philadelphia Union II in their last season in the second division league and has been a standout on US youth national teams, notably at the U-20 Concacaf Championship and U-20 World Cup.

Craig will join Chester, Pa.-born center back George Campbell in camp with Montreal. The 23-year-old made 28 starts last season for Montreal.

Caden Grabfelder, a former FC Delco and Philadelphia Union Academy midfielder who was drafted by CF Montreal is not on the preseason training camp roster. Grabfelder, who is from Allentown, Pa., has two years of eligibility left with the Nittany Lions. Montreal will retain his MLS rights until December 31, 2026.

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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