National Men’s Under 20 defender Damani Richards will leave this country today (Wednesday) to join American Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union ahead of the upcoming season.
Richards, a member of the T&T Under 20 team which participated in the Caribbean zone of the Youth World Cup qualifiers last year, was on trial at Union a couple months ago.
US-based FIFA player agent Andre Fortune, who took midfielder Keon Daniel to Philadelphia, disclosed that Richards will join the team for the upcoming season and further details will be revealed later today.
A look at the Union roster shows just six defenders with one player recently turning 34 and the club has just three true defenders who played in at least half of last season’s games.
Ahead of the MLS Superdraft it was reported that the club was in desperate need of a left back which Richards plays as well as the centre-back position.
The 18-year-old from Cocorite is a former Trinity College student and has stints with W Connection and Caledonia AIA.
He is also a past National Under 17 player.
The Union kicks off their MLS season on March 2 against Sporting Kansas City.