Philadelphia Union unscathed in MLS Expansion Draft

For the fourth straight expansion draft, the Philadelphia Union didn’t have any players selected by 2020 newcomers Inter Miami and Nashville SC.

Lancaster, Pa. native Zarek Valentin was one of the five picks for Nashville but he was immediately traded to the Houston Dynamo for allocation money. A trade involving Wyndmoor, Pa. native Daniel Lovitz to Nashville SC for allocation was also announced during the draft broadcast. The first player selected by Inter Miami was Reading United alum Ben Sweat.

Two players have been selected in seven expansion drafts since the Union’s first season in 2010. Justin Mapp was selected by the Montreal Impact in 2011 and Pedro Ribeiro was taken by Orlando City SC in 2014.

2019 Expansion Draft Picks

Inter Miami – Ben Sweat, New York City FC
Nashville SC – Abu Danladi, Minnesota United FC
Inter Miami – Alvas Powell, FC Cincinnait
Nashville SC – Zarek Valentin, Portland Timbers (traded to Houston for allocation money)
Inter Miami – Lee Nguyen, Los Angeles FC
Nashville SC – Jalil Anibaba, New England Revolution
Inter Miami – Luis Argudo, Columbus Crew
Nashville SC – Brandon Vazquez, Atlanta United (traded to Cincinnati for allocation money)
Inter Miami – Bryan Meredith, Seattle Sounders
Nashville SC – Jimmy Medranda, Sporting Kansas City

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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