Philadelphia Union make $5.1 million move to bring back German defender originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Things have not gone right for the Philadelphia Union this season, as they’ve sunk to the bottom of the Eastern Conference table, amassing a lackluster seven points in their 15 games in the MLS this season. There are a few things to point towards for this downfall, with the mass exodus that the Union faced in the offseason, as mainstays such as Tai Baribo, Jakob Glesnes, and, more shockingly, Kai Wagner, have all contributed to the free fall in the table.
While Baribo and Glesnes are enjoying life in their respective new chapters, Wagner hasn’t had the easiest time over in the English third division, with Birmingham City, as it’s recently been rumored that he wants to and will return to the City of Brotherly Love to continue his career.
Wagner’s reported move back to Philadelphia
🚨💥 Kai Wagner back to Philadelphia – DONE DEAL ✔️
29 y/o left-back is returning following a strong second half of the season with Birmingham.
The move is driven by personal reasons. Transfer fee: €4.5m. Long-term contract agreed. Medical soon. @SkySportDE@berger_pj 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/h6BoPVBTtT
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 16, 2026
As reported by Florian Plettenberg, the German defender is slated to make his move back to the Union, with the two sides in the deal agreeing to a fee of €4.5 million ($5.1 million), with the only remaining hurdle being a medical having to be done.
It will see Wagner return to the club that he’s called home for seven seasons, in which he’s made 238 appearances, winning out on 305 tackles while recording 327 interceptions. The move would certainly help out Philadelphia’s interim head coach, Ryan Richter, in his bolstering the backline that has struggled throughout the start of the campaign.
The German’s return will help plug one of the holes that has been sinking the Union’s hopes this season, and with the second half of the season soon underway, there’s still time to somewhat right the course for the campaign.
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