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MLS Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union Sign Midfielder Daniel Gazdag to New Contract as Designated Player

January 4, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Philadelphia Union News Release


CHESTER, Pa. - Philadelphia Union announced today that the club has reached an agreement on a new contract with midfielder Daniel Gazdag. Under the new contract, the 26-year-old Hungarian International will occupy a Designated Player spot with the Union and is guaranteed through 2025 with an option for 2026. Gazdag will also switch his number from six to 10, becoming the ninth player in team history to wear the coveted number.

"Daniel became one of the top two-way players in Major League Soccer as well as a league MVP candidate last season," said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. "His 22 goals and 10 assists in the regular season show his value to our attack, and his defensive work rate and intelligence were key in helping us build a top defensive unit. He's a great fit for our aggressive style of play and we are excited to reward him with a Designated Player contract that keeps him in Philadelphia for the coming years."

In 2022, Gazdag earned his first MLS Best XI selection after setting the record for most goals scored by a Union player in a single MLS regular season with 22, one behind 2022 MLS Golden Boot winner Hany Mukhtar. Additionally, Gazdag produced a club-record 32 goal contributions last season. On MLS Decision Day, Gazdag scored his 20th goal and registered his 10th assist of the season, becoming the sixth player in MLS history with at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single regular season. He also became the first player in Union history to score in seven consecutive home MLS matches. With 61 shots in 2022, Gazdag's conversion rate (36.1%) was the highest by an MLS player with at least 10 goals since New York City FC's Frank Lampard (36.4%) in 2016. Gazdag helped lead the Union to their first MLS Cup appearance as well as securing a berth in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League for the second time in club history.

Before coming to MLS, Gazdag spent eight years playing for Budapest Honvéd FC in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, the top tier league in Hungary.

Internationally, Gazdag has earned 18 caps for the Hungarian Men's National Team, scoring four goals. He made his debut for the men's national team in a friendly vs. Montenegro on September 5, 2019, and on June 14, 2022, Gazdag scored in a 4-0 win against England in the UEFA Nations League.

TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign midfielder Daniel Gazdag to a new contract through 2025 on January 4, 2022.

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