Union’s Jakob Glesnes signs contract extension through 2024

The Union announced Wednesday that stalwart centerback Jakob Glesnes has signed a contract extension through 2024.

Since arriving before the start of last season, the big Norwegian has become one of the team’s most important and most popular players. He has played 5,422 minutes over 62 games in all competitions, including every minute of every game this year until missing the Eastern Conference final due to health protocols.

Of the 11 players who were ruled out, only fellow centerback Jack Elliott and left back Kai Wagner’s absences hurt more.

Just as impressive as Glesnes’ durability has been his discipline. He has never been red-carded in his two years here, and has been given just 13 yellow cards.

Of course, there’s also his uncanny ability to score long-range goals. His three thunderbolts, coincidentally all in nationally televised games, instantly went viral worldwide. The most recent was a 123rd-minute game-winner in the first round of this year’s playoffs against the rival New York Red Bulls, and it’s arguably the biggest goal in Union history.

“In his first season with the Union, Jakob proved he was capable of becoming a top player in Major League Soccer and in his second season he has delivered on his promise and is now one of the best defenders in the league,” Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a statement. “His front-foot defense and ability to progress the ball out of defense have been crucial to the team’s success over the past two seasons … his development on the pitch and natural leadership abilities have solidified the importance of keeping him in Philadelphia.”

Glesnes was originally signed to a two-year contract with club options for 2022 and 2023. His new deal takes care of those years and one more.

“So happy to announce that I will be part of this fantastic club for the next years,” he wrote on Instagram.

» READ MORE: Union sporting director Ernst Tanner is going shopping for a striker as the offseason begins

The Union also announced Wednesday that they’ve picked up contract options for next year on Elliott, third-string goalkeeper Joe Bendik, academy-bred midfielder Cole Turner, and forwards Kacper Przybylko and Sergio Santos.

Elliott is likely in line for a contract extension in the coming months. He signed a contract in the spring of 2019 that guaranteed him through 2021 and had an option year for 2022. He’s also likely in line for a well-earned raise from his 2021 salary of $340,000.

Only one player had his option declined, and it wasn’t a surprise: Matheus Davó. He will go back to Corinthians, the Brazilian club from which he arrived on loan in August, after making just one appearance for the Union.

Five players have contracts expiring at the end of this year: defenders Aurélien Collin, Alvas Powell and Matt Real, midfielder Anthony Fontana, and winger Ilsinho. The Union made contract offers to Real and Fontana, both of whom are academy products, but not the others.

It’s no surprise that Collin and Ilsinho are in their situations, being 35 and 36 years old, respectively. Collin spent most of this year as effectively a player-coach before an emergency call-in to play in the Eastern Conference final with Elliott and Glesnes sidelined. Ilsinho spent most of the year injured, making it onto the field just six times.

Both veterans would make terrific academy coaches if they and the team are interested.

» READ MORE: Aurélien Collin was a steadying force for the Union at a tumultuous time

We’ll see whether Powell, 27, stays in town. The Jamaican right back’s experience as a playoff veteran — and one of only two MLS Cup winners in the Union’s locker room — was a huge asset when Olivier Mbaizo was sidelined by MLS’ health protocols for the Union’s first two postseason games. But keeping him would potentially block academy product Nathan Harriel from progressing, and he has shown in his senior-level cameos that he’s ready for the big stage.

Real and Fontana face question marks. Real made 11 appearances this year but just one start, and has only seen the field once since June 27, Oct. 10 at FC Cincinnati (which was during a FIFA window). He only even made the bench one other time, Oct. 16. Coincidentally, he didn’t make the bench for nine straight games after being the subject of a trade rumor in early August.

Fontana played in 17 games this year but logged only 606 minutes. He missed two-plus months in the summer because of post-concussion symptoms, and in the spring attracted interest from Italy’s Venezia right before the club earned promotion to Serie A. The interest cooled while Fontana was injured, but Venezia took another Union player on loan: academy-bred reserve forward Jack de Vries.

De Vries remains under contract with the Union. So does midfielder Matej Oravec, who was loaned to a team in his native Slovaka after not playing a minute here in a year-and-a-half after signing.

In total, the Union have 25 players under contract for next year.

» READ MORE: MLS commissioner Don Garber salutes the Union on their success