The Philadelphia Union is finalizing the transfer of Toulouse and United States international defender Mark McKenzie, a source confirmed to ESPN.
McKenzie, 27, will be a Designated Player, and will arrive in January 2027, ahead of the MLS Sprint Season that is taking place as MLS transitions to a Summer-Spring calendar later in 2027. The transfer fee is around $2.5 million, according a source.
The Athletic was first to report the news.
The proposed move, if completed, would mark the second time this season that the Union has signed a former player to a DP contract. Earlier this year Philadelphia re-signed left back Kai Wagner from Birmingham City.
While the Union’s philosophy has been to promote heavily from within, it has also relied on veterans to round out the side, and McKenzie’s experience and leadership should help in that regard.
McKenzie is a product of the Union’s academy, and made his first team debut in 2018. He went on to make 59 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals, and leading the Union to the 2020 Supporters’ Shield.
In 2021, the New York City native moved to Belgian side Genk, helping the team claim the 2021 Belgian Cup. After spending parts of four seasons in Belgium, McKenzie moved to Ligue 1 side Toulouse, where he has spent the last two campaigns.
At international level, McKenzie has made 30 appearances for the U.S. men’s national team, and was part of the side that took part in the 2026 World Cup. McKenzie went the full 90 minutes in the U.S. team’s 3-2 group-stage defeat to Türkiye.
