Philadelphia Union
DOOPing Overseas: Strikers and newcomers shine in August and September
The new European season is well underway with many former Union players making the most of their opportunities overseas. In August and September, Samuel Adeniran, Cory Burke and Julian Carranza found the back of the net often, with three other former Union stars notching goals as well. Olwethu Makhanya and Jack McGlynn have made strong first impressions in Europe after summer moves from MLS, while Leon Flach and Jamiro Monteiro are adjusting to their new teams.
With sustained success this decade, fans have seen some of the brightest academy talents, their favorite players, and outcasts make their way overseas to compete in some of the best leagues in the world. The club is represented in Europe, South America, the Middle East, and more.
Let’s see how some of those former Union players have fared to start the season:
Brenden Aaronson (Medford, N.J.) – The former Union midfielder has started twice in five Premier League games for unbeaten Leeds United to start the season. Despite an impressive preseason following the World Cup, Aaronson has seen his minutes dwindle due to numerous attacking additions made by Leeds this summer. The 25-year-old’s only goal of the season came in a 6-3 loss at Chelsea in the League Cup.
Samuel Adeniran – The former Union striker had the biggest moment of his career in late August, scoring a brace against Celtic to send LASK to the Champions League. Adeniran’s second goal of the match in the 109th minute of extra time proved to be the game-winner. LASK would advance past the Champions League qualifiers 5-4 on aggregate over the reigning Scottish Premiership champions. Since the start of the Austrian Bundesliga season on July 31, Adeniran has four goals and one assist in league play. The American missed five games due to injury after the win against Celtic, but returned to action for the final match before the three-week international break.
Markus Anderson – The on-loan Union attacker has made three appearances for Lyngby since joining the Danish side in early September. Anderson spent the first half of the season with Brooklyn in the USL Championship, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in 20 matches. He was then recalled from his loan with Brooklyn and loaned to Lyngby, a club in Denmark’s top flight that is a strategic partner of the Union. Anderson became the second Union player after Neil Pierre to be loaned and appear for Lyngby. The 22-year-old has played 129 minutes with the club, starting one match.
Cory Burke – The former Union striker has been an integral part of Portmore United’s early success this season. Burke notched a brace in the final group game of the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, sending his side through to the semifinals. The 2-1 win over Cibao FC saw the defending Jamaican Premier League winners finish second in Group B.
Julian Carranza – The former Union striker has scored three goals in six Liga MX games since the start of August. Most recently, Carranza scored the opening goal in Necaxa’s 3-1 loss at San Luis on Saturday, Sept. 19. In eight league games this season, the 26-year-old has five goals and one assist across 675 minutes played. Despite his side’s position toward the bottom of the table, Carranza has shone with the second-most goals in Liga MX and fourth-most goal contributions.
Stuart Findlay – The former Union center back has had a rocky start to his second season with Hearts and his first since moving to Scotland on a permanent transfer. Findlay has played in 13 games this season between the Scottish Premiership and FA Cup and three levels of European competitions. Hearts were eliminated from both the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, but narrowly advanced to the Conference League league phase on the final day. The 31-year-old has still been a consistent piece for a Hearts side that have won three of their last five league games and sit in third place.
Leon Flach – The former Union midfielder has yet to play a game this season. Flach was loaned from Jagiellonia Bialystok in Poland to VfL Osnabrück in Germany. The 25-year-old joined the 2. Bundesliga side on deadline day on Sept. 1. Flach, who dealt with injuries late last season, has returned to training and will feature in an exhibition match before playing with the first team.
Olwethu Makhanya – The former Union center back has been a mainstay on Rangers’ backline since his move to Scotland in July. Makhanya has started all 11 games he’s played in across domestic and European competitions. In six of those matches, Makhanya and Rangers have recorded clean sheets, including the last four games. The 22-year-old almost had his first goal for the club in the Old Firm Derby against Celtic on Sunday, Sept. 20, but Makhanya handled the ball in the process of scoring a volley from outside the box.
Jack McGlynn – The former Union midfielder has made quite an impression in the EFL Championship after moving from the Houston Dynamo to Stoke City just before the end of the summer transfer window. McGlynn has scored in back-to-back games for Stoke, both 2-1 wins. The 23-year-old’s trademark left foot was on display in Stoke’s last game before the international break, with McGlynn firing into the top corner from about 30 yards out. Since the American joined Stoke, his side has three wins and a draw, and sits seventh in the table.
Mark McKenzie (Bear, Del.) – The former Union center back, who is reportedly returning to the club in January, has played every minute for Toulouse this season. In five games, McKenzie has made 45 defensive contributions and is first on his team in that category. Despite a slow start for Toulouse in Ligue 1, the American defender has statistically been one of his side’s better players through the first month and a half.
Jamiro Monteiro – The former Union midfielder has played in 10 matches for NEC Nijmegen across the Eredivisie, Champions League qualifiers and Europa League. Monterio joined NEC Nijmegen on a free transfer from PEC Zwolle, staying in Holland and joining his former Union teammate Haris Medunjanin, who is an assistant coach at the Dutch club. The 32-year-old has started five of his team’s 12 games to this season, but has yet to register a goal contribution.
Auston Trusty (Media, Pa.) – The former Union defender has played in 10 of Celtic’s 12 games to start the campaign. With Trusty starting, Celtic have recorded five clean sheets. The center back also added a goal during a Scottish FA Cup match in August. The 28-year-old is now in his third full season with the reigning Scottish Premiership winners and is often paired on the backline with USMNT teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Mikael Uhre – The former Union striker has played just 44 minutes for FC Midtjylland this season, often being an unused substitute or being left off the matchday roster. Uhre returned to his native Denmark this past winter as a free agent. The 31-year-old made one start in nine appearances for his new club last season. When Uhre and his team return from international break, it will be over a year since the striker scored a goal. Uhre last found the net on Oct. 4, scoring the Supporters’ Shield clinching goal in a 1-0 win over NYCFC.
