Philadelphia Union Sign MLS All-Star And MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Winner Andre Blake To New Multi-Year Contract
2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Jamaican international signs new multi-year Targeted Allocation Money contract with Union
CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 17, 2018) – Philadelphia Union today announced that they have agreed to a new multi-year contract with 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalist Andre Blake.
Blake, 27, was originally selected by the Philadelphia Union in the First Round as the first overall pick of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft on January 16, 2014. Named an MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI in 2016, Targeted Allocation Money was used to complete the contract.
“It is a priority for us to build and secure the foundation of the Philadelphia Union, and Andre is as big a part of that foundation as any player,” said Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart. “Ensuring he will be here for years to come is an important step for our club. We’re delighted to sign him to a new multi-year contract and would like to thank him for his dedication and hard work.”
Blake has been a consistent performer for Philadelphia since earning the Union’s starting goalkeeper job ahead of the 2016 season. Over the last two years, Blake has started 58 matches in net for Philadelphia, recording 15 shutouts and 187 saves.
Since the start of the 2016 season, the Jamaican has recorded more catches (69) than any other goalkeeper in the league, 10 ahead of second-ranked Stefan Frei. He also ranks fifth in MLS in saves over that span as well as fourth in punches (32).
He was named to the MLS Best XI in 2016 and was named the 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year following a season that saw him make a career-best 99 saves. In 2017, he was again named a finalist for the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year honor after improving his goals-against average to a career-best 1.31.
At the international level, Blake has served as the captain for the Jamaican National Team. In the 2017 Gold Cup, he led Jamaica to a second place finish, where he was awarded the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s top goalkeeper. He was also named to the tournament’s Best XI.
TRANSACTION: Philadelphia Union sign goalkeeper Andre Blake to a new multi-year contract on January 17, 2018. Targeted Allocation Money was used to complete the contract.
Name: Andre Blake
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 172
Born: November 21, 1990 in May Pen, Jamaica
Hometown: May Pen, Jamaica
Citizenship: Jamaica
Acquired: Selected by the Philadelphia Union in the First Round (First Overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft on January 16, 2014. Signed to a new multi-year contract on January 17, 2018 using Targeted Allocation Money.
