Scouting new Philadelphia Union striker Ezekiel Alladoh

Ezekiel Alladoh arrives after a breakout year in Sweden’s Allsvenskan with IF Brommapojkarna, producing seven goals and one assist in 32 matches across all competitions. Brommapojkarna has a strong track record of developing high-ceiling players like Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal), Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham Hotspur), and Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur), who all came through the same system.

Physically imposing at 6’3 and heavily left-footed, Alladoh operates as a classic target-forward with modern mobility. He’s comfortable dropping deep, receiving under pressure, and initiating combination play rather than forcing low-percentage actions.

Technical Evaluation

Alladoh’s standout trait is his ability to control the ball with defenders tight on his back. His first touch is secure, and he consistently uses his frame to shield, swivel, and bring teammates into the attack.

He is extremely dominant in aerial situations and scored two of his seven goals with his head. His left foot is his primary weapon. Five of his goals came from that side, and his ball-striking is clean and consistent when he’s able to set up on it.

The limitation is clear: he relies almost exclusively on his left. When pressured on his right, his shots lose accuracy, and he becomes more predictable. In MLS, where defenders close space quickly, that reliance will be tested.

Tactical Intelligence

This is where he differentiates himself. Alladoh understands spacing at a high level for a 20-year-old. He draws multiple defenders simply by staying patient with his back to the goal, forcing back lines to collapse on him. That opens channels for runners and naturally creates overloads.

He often drops very deep, sometimes into midfield, to link play. He wants to combine, not just finish moves. He reads pressure well and rarely forces hero passes.

His movement fits perfectly with a transition-heavy system. He accelerates well when play turns over, and his timing when releasing teammates running beyond him is mature.

Physical Profile

Strong, durable, and eager for contact. He has the frame to survive MLS immediately. He’s not just tall. He uses his size with intention. His balance when wrestling with center backs is excellent, and he consistently absorbs bumps without losing control of the ball.

He explodes well in open space and can run the channels, but he’s not a pure sprinter. His value comes from hold-up dominance and repeat duels, not just raw pace.

Statistical + Contextual Evaluation

Alladoh’s raw production (7g/1a) is solid for a 20-year-old in a league where his club only held 43% possession. Philadelphia played with just 48% last season (one of the lowest in MLS), so the stylistic transition is similar.

His aerial threat immediately improves a Union side that scored 30% of its 62 goals from set pieces. The fit is obvious: Kai Wagner sends volume from the left and produced 103 chances created last season. Adding a 6’3 intelligent target gives Wagner another high-value option while reducing the creative burden that fell entirely on him.

Alladoh (7 goals) vs. Damiani (8 goals) – Key Comparison (Per 90 Minutes)

Goals per 90

• Alladoh: 0.31
• Damiani: 0.32

Damiani shoots more, but Alladoh finishes at the same rate with less supply. Alladoh is more efficient relative to his environment.

Expected Goals per 90 (xG)

• Alladoh: 0.31
• Damiani: 0.51

Damiani gets better chances created for him, but doesn’t convert above expectation.
Alladoh converts exactly what he gets. No waste.

Shots on Target per 90

• Alladoh: 0.94
• Damiani: 1.42

Damiani shoots more but doesn’t score much more compared to Alladoh, who shoots less but with relatively no drop-off in actual goal output.

Touches in the Box

• Alladoh: 3.93
• Damiani: 5.29

Damiani gets more touches in the box, but Alladoh’s number is impressive because he’s not fed the same volume of possession. Damiani has better players surrounding him, like Kai Wagner, whose service is always consistent. Union holds 48% possession compared to Brommapojkarna’s 43%.

Possession Won in the Final Third

• Alladoh: 0.67
• Damiani: 0.71

Both are active pressers. Alladoh’s number is more valuable because he comes from a lower-pressure league.

Fit with the Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia’s striker set last season centered around Baribo and Bruno Damiani. Damiani, despite scoring 8 in 36, offered limited link play. He often stayed high on the last defender, leaving a huge disconnect between midfield and the forward line. The result: rushed entries into the final third, forced balls into feet, and very few clean combinations.

Alladoh immediately solves this. His natural tendency to drop into the hole gives the Union the central target they’ve lacked, without abandoning their classic 4-4-2 / 4-2-2-2 shape. He becomes the “wall player” who lets Milan Iloski finally play to his strengths. Iloski struggled last year because there was no reliable outlet near him to play short to; Alladoh provides that structure.

In possession, he bridges midfield to attack. In transition, he becomes the pivot for runners or becomes a powerful runner himself. In the box, he’s a legitimate aerial weapon. This is the exact middle-ground solution between wanting a creator and staying committed to a dual-striker system.

The Philadelphia Union also understands that Alladoh’s profile is different from some of the academy/Union II players who have seen some first-team minutes. Eddy Davis III and Sal Olivas are wiry, rapid forwards who look to stretch defenses. They still possess that chaotic pressing style that everyone is familiar with; however, they don’t conflict with the profile of Alladoh. If there was ever a moment where one of these players was called up to the first team, they would be able to play alongside Alladoh seamlessly. 

Projection

Alladoh projects as an immediate contributor who can grow into a top-tier MLS striker. With lots of minutes up for grabs in both MLS and Concacaf Champions League, there is room for him to grow before a possible playoff push. He won’t be expected to carry the entire scoring load, but he has the tools to transform how the Union builds attacks. If he develops even a passable right foot and sharpens his finishing consistency, he has the physical and tactical profile to become one of the most complete forwards in the league. Apart from his individual skillset, the Union will be looking at him as a tool to unlock underused assets in the team, like Milan Illoski.