CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 18, 2022) – Philadelphia Union announced today that the club has signed defender Jack Elliott to a new, multi-year contract extension. Following the 2021 season where he was nominated for MLS Defender of the Year, the deal ensures he is under contract with the club through 2024 with a club option for 2025.
“Over his five seasons with the Union, Jack has developed and proven himself to be one of the best defenders in Major League Soccer,” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. “His combination of size and skill has been a key component to the team’s continued growth and success, consistently leading the Union to be one of the top teams with the fewest goals allowed in the league. Recently, Jack showed his positional versatility and helped us overcome unprecedented challenges to make the deepest playoff run in our club’s history.”
This past season Elliott made 33 MLS appearances (33 starts) for the Union, scoring two goals and adding two assists. Elliott’s second goal came from a free kick against Columbus Crew from 30 yards out, and his defensive effort helped secure the Union their 10th clean sheet of the season (Oct. 3). He also converted a penalty in the shootout in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Nashville SC to help the Union advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in club history. Elliott’s efforts in the backline helped the Union allow the second fewest goals scored in the Eastern Conference in the 2021 season. He earned a spot on MLS’ Team of the Week four times, the most within the club.
Collegiately, Elliott played at West Virginia University under current Philadelphia Union II head coach Marlon LeBlanc before being selected as the Union’s Fourth Round (77th overall) pick of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. In 2019, Elliott was one of only three Union players to play every minute of every game and this past season he recorded his MLS career-high in points with four. Overall, Elliott has made 131 career appearances (122 starts), registering eight goals and three assists in that time.
TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign defender Jack Elliott to a contract extension on January 18, 2022.
