Former Union striker and fellow countryman inspired Japhet Sery Larsen to sign in Philadelphia

The Danish soccer community is tight. Built on strong relationships and trust, it’s the very definition of “it’s a small world,” with Danish professionals turning to one another at every step. That was the case for new Philadelphia Union center back Japhet Sery Larsen, who used a former Union striker and fellow countryman to aid in his decision to sign in Philadelphia.

While sold on the team’s philosophy and play style after interviews with coaches and front office staff, Sery Larsen needed to know about life outside of the club.

That is when he turned to Mikael Uhre.

“He was really happy about his time here,” Japhet Sery Larsen said in a press conference on Thursday. “He had some great moments here.”

Uhre spent four seasons in Philadelphia, quickly becoming a fan favorite during his first campaign with the club in 2022. The 31-year-old left as a free agent this winter, returning to Denmark with FC Midtjylland. 

As one Dane departed the club, another one joined, with Uhre having nothing but good things to say about the club and life in Philadelphia.

“Mostly, we talked about how is life outside of the club,” Sery Larsen said. “I had some good talks with the sporting directors and the coaches about what it was like being in the club, but the hard part is finding out what life is [like] around the training ground, so Mikael was really helpful there.

“Obviously, we talked about [life] in the club as well, but he had only good things to say about the club. He really enjoyed the playing style and philosophy of the Union.”

The first player from Denmark to suit up for the blue and gold, Uhre became one of just a few Union players to have their own chant. The striker scored double-digit goals in three of his four seasons at the club. While Uhre’s scoring numbers decreased in his final season, he became more of a playmaker, contributing seven assists and scoring the goal that clinched the Union the 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield. 

Unlike Sery Larsen, Uhre couldn’t turn to a Dane who had experience at the club upon arrival. However, he did connect with a former teammate from Denmark, 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar, who he played with at Brondby in the Danish Superligaen for three seasons.

“As soon as I got the information about Philadelphia, I called my friend Hany Mukhtar,” Mikael Uhre told MLSSoccer.com in a 2022 interview. “I think you know him. He said the league would be a very good fit for me as a football player, that really helped me. I thought this would be a great challenge.”

Sery Larsen followed in Uhre’s footsteps, learning more about the league from a former teammate, Evander, who has over 80 games of MLS experience with the Portland Timbers and now FC Cincinnati. The pair played together at FC Midtjylland during the 2020-21 season.

With more of an influx of Danish players in MLS, the 25-year-old center back also turned to a fellow countryman and friend, Anders Dreyer, who won MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2025 with San Diego FC. Dreyer was also a member of the 2020-21 Midtjylland side with Evander and Sery Larsen. 

“I have a good friend who plays in San Diego, Dreyer, who has spoken really warmly about the league,” Sery Larsen said. “I have a former teammate as well in Cincinnati, Evander, who really enjoys his time here. 

“All of them really talked warmly about the league and had nothing bad to say, so it sounded really positive.”

While his MLS debut won’t come for another month, Sery Larsen made his first appearance for the club in a preseason friendly against Sigma Olomouc on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The 25-year-old started alongside Olwethu Makhanya at center back, playing the first half and not conceding a goal.

Head coach Bradley Carnell, who spoke before Sery Larsen during Thursday’s press conference from Marbella, Spain, has been impressed with how quickly his new defender has integrated with the team and become a leading figure.

“Japh has come in here and had such a calmness about him, and a real professional working manner about him, and he hit the ground running,” Bradley Carnell said. “He commands a calm sense but also a presence, and it’s kind of an oxymoron, but he’s really good to be around the group. He’s already establishing some form of foundational leadership capabilities here as well.”

Sery Larsen is hoping his transition to MLS and the Union is as seamless as it was for Dreyer, Evander and Uhre.