Philadelphia Union II sign Abdoulaye Diop to Next Pro contract

A promising box-to-box midfielder from Washington D.C. is the latest Philadelphia Union Academy prospect to sign a professional contract with the organization.

Abdoulaye Diop, 16, joined the academy two years ago from Springfield SYC and has seen his star quickly rise since making the move to Chester. He was part of the U-15 team that won the MLS Next Cup his first season in 2024-2025 and last season was named to the MLS Next All-Star Game and to the Generation adidas Cup Rising XI and U-16 Best XI.

The 6-foot-2 midfielder made his MLS Next Pro debut in May and made 9 appearances and four starts during the 2026 season. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Senegal, Diop has represented the U.S. with five appearances for the U.S. U-16 Boys’ National Team.

“Abdoulaye has shown tremendous growth throughout his time in our Academy, and it’s been exciting to see that development carry over to Union II,” Philadelphia Union Academy Director Paul Killeen said in a news release announcing the signing. “His technical ability, competitiveness, and understanding of the game have consistently stood out. This next step is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and we look forward to seeing him continue progressing through our development pathway.”

Philadelphia Union II will return to the pitch in February to kick off the MLS Next Pro Sprint Season, a 14-match mini-season that will mirror Major League’s soccer’s transition to a Summer-to-Spring calendar shift.

Matthew Ralph

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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