Union Trade CJ Sapong to Chicago Fire
The Philadelphia Union acquired up to $450,000 in allocation money from the Chicago Fire in return for CJ Sapong.
The specifics of the Allocation Money are as follows: $200,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money, $100,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money, and an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to be conveyed to Philadelphia should the Chicago Fire acquire said funds this year. If the Fire do not acquire an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to convey to Philadelphia this season, then that money conveys as GAM in 2020, and the Union also receive $50,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money from Chicago should Sapong hit certain performance incentives in 2019. Sapong will be heading to the third different MLS team in his 10 year career which saw him spend four seasons with Sporting Kansas City from 2011-2014 and then the Union from 2015-2018.
Philadelphia Union have acquired up to $450,000 in allocation money from @ChicagoFire in return for @BigAfrika88.
Thank you for always wearing the Union badge with pride, CJ!
More here: http://t.co/BL6E5rnziR#FreshPriceOfChestAir #DOOP #GoodLuckCJ pic.twitter.com/S2zBGQktQU
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 23, 2019
Kristian Dyer reported this deal first as he stated, “Per source, hearing that C.J. Sapong is being traded to the Chicago Fire for allocation money. ‘Significant amount’ of GAM and TAM I’m told. #DOOP” Although it was a deal that surprised many fans at first, after considering the current situation at forward, this was a smart move that will benefit the Union in the long run. CJ Sapong hinted at the trade earlier on Saturday by posting a short farewell tweet on his personal account that can be seen below.
He also thanked the Union organization in an appreciation post and revealed that he was excited to join the Chicago Fire in 2019 on his Instagram that can also be seen below.
Per Joe Tansey, CJ Sapong will leave the Union as the club’s second-best goal scorer and one of 8 players to play 100 games in a Union jersey. Sapong scored 36 goals in 123 regular season appearances for the Union as he played four seasons with the Union. The Union traded the 10th pick in the 2015 SuperDraft to acquire CJ as he recorded 38 goals and 14 assists in 135 total games for the Boys in Blue. Sapong mightily struggled with the Union in 2018 as it was his worst season for Philly due to the fact that he only scored four goals and three assists while his role changed many times and there was an overload of attackers/strikers on the roster. According to Joe Tansey on Pro Soccer USA, the trade is the second high-profile deal made between the Union and Fire in the last two years. David Accam went to the Union in January 2018 for $1.2 million of allocation money. To be fair, Tanner earned a big chunk of change for Sapong who also on the last year of his contract, something that many fans were not aware of.
Ernst Tanner spoke on behalf of the deal through conference call on Saturday as he stated, “Chicago approached us a couple of weeks ago. At that time, we were not comfortable with that decision and not with the figures. They called it off, but they came back again and it was time now for us.” Tanner then added that he is very confident in his roster and doesn’t see a reason to make additional moves as the roster now has 25 players. Speaking on this matter, Tanner went on to say, “If we keep on playing with two strikers, I’d say it’s more than enough. In addition, we have some guys at (second-tier United Soccer League side Bethlehem) Steel who could make a move. I’m very happy with the situation.”
“Photo: USA Today Images/nbcsports.com”
While this move initially upset many fans, including myself, it was for the better due to the fact that Sapong was the team’s sixth forward heading into the season. While Skyler Hoffner and I both believed that CJ would be a great veteran presence for the other strikers, it just was not meant to be and Tanner was forced into a tough but necessary decision that will aid the other attackers in the club’s new 4-4-2 formation in 2019. All in all, I will truly miss CJ Sapong due to everything that he did for the city of Philadelphia in his four years with the team, both on and off the field. He did whatever it took to lead his team his team to a victory at the striker position as he always fulfilled his duties by scoring goals, assisting in hold up play with his physicality or tremendous work ethic, and providing many wonderful memories with the Boys in Blue. Good luck in your future with the Chicago Fire, CJ!
Below our reactions from myself, Union Nation, Sapong himself, and teammate Fafa Picault.
I’m really going to miss you, CJ. You were my favorite player ever since the Union acquired you in 2015 as you always put your body on the line and gave your best effort every game. You truly embodied what it meant to play for Philly with your toughness/great work ethic. ? #DOOP pic.twitter.com/eZnU2aXloW
— Sean McMenamin (@sean102400) February 23, 2019
From all of us at Union Nation we thank you for the great memories over the last four years in Philadelphia @BigAfrika88 your toughness and never give up attitude on the pitch at @TalenEnergyStdm never went unnoticed! Good luck in Chicago??⚽️#DOOP #ThankYouCJ
— Union Nation (@PHLUnionNation) February 23, 2019
— CJ Sapong (@BigAfrika88) February 23, 2019
I’m thankful and blessed to have been able to lead American wingers across the league in goals scored, for 2 seasons straight. With that said, there’s so much more to come. #gazelle #thanksgiving #football ??❤️⚽️✊???
— Fafa Picault (@Fafagoal23) November 20, 2018
On February 19th, Brotherly Game on Twitter reported, “Hearing from multiple sources that Philadelphia Union Academy grad Issa Rayyan has left Duke University to sign a pro contract with Bethlehem Steel FC. The Michigan native was the ACC Freshman of the Year last season. Issa Rayyan then played for the Steel on Tuesday in their friendly against Loudoun United.
Updates
Earlier this week, Jim Curtin put out an attacking minded lineup in the team’s fifth preseason game and the Philadelphia Union defeated D.C. United in the Sun Coast Invitational by a final score of 2-1 after goals from Marco Fabian, and Cory Burke. Sergio Santos was pulled from the starting lineup due to left knee soreness. After his goal, Cory Burke has now scored seven times for the Philadelphia Union over the past two preseasons which is a notable stat. The Union dominated possession and controlled the tempo of the game throughout the preseason matchup. New acquisition Kai Wagner had an impressive outing at left back as he frequently got up and down the left wing in the attack all game long and whipped in some dangerous crosses that led to a few scoring chances.
Then on Saturday in the team’s final preseason game, they defeated the Ottawa Fury by a final score of 2-1 with goals from Kacper Przybyłko, and Fafa Picault on a PK. Per the Union blog posts on the match. “Turns out they’re testing out the use of mic’d up refs to report that a call is going to VAR, so we got to hear Unkel call out the VAR. VAR was used to call a handball on Ottawa and Fafa scored it union lead 2-1.” After this victory, the Union finished the preseason with a successful record of 5-1-1.
Today marks exactly one week from the Union’s home opener on Saturday March 3rd against Toronto FC at 1 PM ET kickoff at Talen Energy Stadium.
Before and affter we told him there’s only ONE WEEK ’til our home opener ?
7️⃣⏳? http://t.co/fjVfknsXU1#DOOP | #ThisIsPhilly | @fabioalves_3 pic.twitter.com/NI1fXqnL0T
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 23, 2019
Below is a team preview for the upcoming 2019 season. DOOP!
How high is @PhilaUnion‘s ceiling in 2019? #MLSisBackhttp://t.co/PkIDl1gkUL
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2019
Featured Image: philadelphiaunion.com
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