The Philadelphia Union may have gone into the winter concerned about whether Andre Blake would still be their goalkeeper in 2018, but now those worries have been put to rest.
The Union have reached an agreement with Blake on a new multi-year guaranteed contract that will make Blake one of the highest-paid goalkeepers in MLS, sources confirmed to Goal on Monday.
The 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year enjoyed another standout season in 2017, for club and country, with his outstanding showing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup — where he helped lead Jamaica to the final — generated considerable interest from European clubs.
Blake's difficulty securing a work permit in England due to Jamaica's low FIFA ranking provided a roadblock to potential moves, as multiple English clubs were considering buying him, but there was still interest from other European leagues heading into the winter.
It has been a quiet offseason for the Union, who have yet to make any major moves. Sources have confirmed to Goal that the Union are set to announce the signing of Wake Forest freshman and U.S. Under-20 defender Mark McKenzie to a homegrown player deal, and are working toward bringing up U.S. U-20 defender Matthew Real from USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel to the Union first team.
