Record-breaking Bruno Damiani signing announced

Uruguayan international striker Bruno Damiani has arrived in Chester, setting a new record for largest transfer in Philadelphia Union history.

The 22-year-old arrives from Club Nacional in his native Uruguay in exchange for a reported $3.4 million fee, which surpasses the fee paid for Mikael Uhre ($2.8 million) by more than a half million dollars.

“Bruno is the exact type of player that we have been looking to add to our striker unit,” Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner said in a news release. “He is a tall, physical striker with a proven ability to dominate and be a danger in the final third. Along with his size and strength, he is a clinical finisher and is relentless on the attack. We look forward to getting him integrated quickly and seeing his impact on the pitch.”

Damiani is coming off a season on loan with Boston River in Uruguay’s top flight, where he scored 7 non-penalty goals (12 total) and had 5 assists. He debuted for Nacional in June 2023 and made his senior national team debut in May 24 in a friendly against Costa Rica.

Damiani will require an international roster spot so the Union will need to make a move to make him eligible for MLS play. His signing is also still pending his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa. Seven of the Union’s allotted eight international spots are filled and they traded the eighth spot to Nashville SC last year.

The Uruguayan will wear the No. 20 and will compete for one of the two starting forward spots with Uhre and Tai Baribo.

The signing completes the promise Tanner made at the start of the offseason that he would add a player in every sector other than goalkeeper. Defender Ian Glavinovich was brought in on loan from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina and Serbian midfielder Jovan Lukic was acquired for a fee of $621,000 that is now the 11th biggest transfer in club history.