Philadelphia Union has signed Alejandro Bedoya to a new contract ahead of the 2024 season. In addition to serving his on-field role, Bedoya will take on a new role as Player Development and Front Office Specialist.
“We are happy to have found a solution that works best for Alejandro and for the Union to bring him back to the club where he can continue to contribute to the team and in the Player Professional Development role,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “His leadership and work ethic are still vital components to our team’s success, and his passion, commitment, and insights after serving in unofficial business and leadership capacities over the years will contribute greatly to his new role. We are confident that his contributions as a developmental mentor and a front office specialist will benefit the overall organization and are grateful to be able to welcome him back.”
“Philadelphia is my home, and the Union is my club. This is the only Major League Soccer team I have ever played for and where I want to stay,’ said Alejandro Bedoya. “The development and ever evolving success of both the team and the organization from the first day I started here until now has been nothing short of incredible to witness, and I’m grateful to be able to continue to contribute to both sides of the business going forward. I will continue to give everything I have to this organization, and I look forward to a successful 2024 campaign.”
The Player Professional Development role allows MLS clubs to designate one player per year in this new position. The player must have responsibilities enabling him to contribute in different parts of the club’s business, including but not limited to coaching, front office duties, and diversity liaison. Under this role, Bedoya will be responsible for supporting various Philadelphia Union front office initiatives in respect to marketing, digital, and social media. Additionally, he will help optimize the club’s innovative player development model by serving as an important mentor to the club’s young players and their development and strengthening the club’s overall approach to player rotation.
Joining the club as a Designated Player in 2016, the 36-year-old has scored 22 goals and 33 assists in 214 appearances (204 starts) in the MLS since joining from Ligue 1 side Nantes. In 2023, he made 28 appearances (25 starts) and registered a career-high seven assists to bring him to 33 in total, surpassing midfielder Haris Medunjanin for third most assists in club history. With his start against Inter Miami CF on June 24, 2023, Bedoya became the third player in club history to reach 200 MLS appearances with the Union, joining goalkeeper Andre Blake and defender Ray Gaddis as the only members of the double century club. With 22 career goals, Bedoya is tied for seventh most goals in Union history and is one of four players to score 20 goals and register 20 assists. Since joining in 2016, the club reached the playoffs seven times in eight years, clinching their first trophy, the Supporters' Shield, in 2020, and making it to the MLS Cup final in 2022. During last year’s inaugural Leagues Cup, Bedoya appeared in two matches, scoring against Inter Miami CF on August 15 and C.F. Monterrey on August 19 to help the team secure a 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup spot for the third time since 2021.
Before joining Philadelphia, Bedoya played in France, Scotland, and Sweden. Internationally, Bedoya has made 66 appearances for the USMNT since making his debut in 2010. In his seven years with the National Team, he started all four matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and was part of the championship-winning 2013 and 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup squads.
In addition to his influence on the field, Bedoya has also made significant contributions off the field, being named 2022 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, and most recently being awarded the 2023 Progress Impact Award for his service within the community.
Bedoya graduated from Boston College, earning his bachelor’s degree from the Carrol School of Management, and later graduated from Harvard Business School’s Crossover into Business Program. Along with amassing a real estate portfolio, he has built his business acumen by investing in several startups including but not limited to Padel Haus, PINCHO, ScorePlay, BioPhy, ICNCLST, and Tonsser. He currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Athlete Venture Group at SeventySix Capital and serves on the board of Live Work Philadelphia. As an honorary Co-Chair of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, he was part of the bid committee that helped Philadelphia become a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign midfielder Alejandro Bedoya to a one-year contract on February 1, 2024.
