Philadelphia Union Sign Forward Cory Burke To New Contract
Union ink forward to new deal; Burke’s contract with Union now guaranteed through 2022 with a team option for 2023
CHESTER, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2020) – Philadelphia Union today announced that the club has signed forward, and Jamaican National Team stalwart, Cory Burke to a new contract. Burke will now remain under contract with Philadelphia through the 2022 season, with a club option for 2023.
"We’re excited to have come to an agreement on a new contract with Cory. He is a very talented striker who instantly strengthens our attack and solidifies our depth up top,” said Ernst Tanner, Union Sporting Director. “Cory has consistently shown his value on the pitch with his dedication, hard work and ability to finish. He has become a valuable striker who runs hard in the box and has the ability to make a play defensively to start the attack.”
Burke, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, was signed to a first team contract in December 2017 after two standout seasons with the club’s USL Team, Bethlehem Steel. In his first season with the team, Burke made 29 regular-season appearances (15 starts) for Philadelphia and finished with a team-lead tying 10 goals on the season. While on loan during parts of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, first with Portmore United FC and then with SKN St. Polten, where he made 11 appearances and scored four goals for the Bundesliga side, Burke returned to the Union in late 2020 in time to make an impact on their run to the club’s first Supporters’ Shield victory with two goals in five games played.
Burke has made multiple Jamaican national team appearances, earning 18 caps along the way. He made five appearances in the 2017 Gold Cup, where he helped the team earn a spot in the finals. Burke has scored six goals for the Jamaican side, four of which came during Concacaf Nations League qualifiers and two more during the Caribbean Cup qualifiers. His most recent call up was for the Concacaf Nations League match in Sept. 2019 in Jamaica’s 6-0 romp over Antigua and Barbuda.
TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign forward Cory Burke to a new contract on December 2, 2020.
