When Philadelphia opposes D.C. United on Saturday in Washington in its MLS opener, the Union will see a home side with several new faces and one very familiar one.
Tai Baribo, who scored a total of 25 goals the past two seasons for the Union, has joined D.C. United by way of a $4 million Designated Player deal.
The striker replaces 2024 MLS Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke, whose contract option was declined.
As its top scorer last year with 16 goals, Baribo helped Philadelphia to a 20-8-6 mark (66 points) as the Union captured the Supporters’ Shield and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Meanwhile, D.C. United had the worst record in MLS at 5-18-11 (26 points) and failed to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year, the longest current drought in the league.
Baribo will pair up top with another new threat, Louis Munteanu, a 23-year-old from CFR Cluj in Romania, who arrives by way of a club-record transfer fee of up to $10 million.
Sean Johnson, a veteran of more than 400 MLS matches, takes over in goal for D.C. United. He lends presence to a unit that surrendered more goals (66) than any team in the Eastern Conference last season.
Despite its success, Philadelphia is in transition as well after the departure of its top two defenders, Kai Wagner and Jakob Glesnes. Wagner, who led the Union in assists with 11 in 2025, moved to Birmingham City in England while Glesnes was dealt to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
“If your team does well, it’s no wonder that you’re going to be getting a few phone calls,” Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell said. “The Union’s had a great reputation of hiring good people and great players. It’s just a conveyor belt now.”
With its offseason moves, Philadelphia has gotten significantly younger. Replacing Baribo, 28, is Ezekiel Alladoh, 20, who arrives from IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden by way of a club-record $4.5 million transfer fee.
Filling holes on the defense left by Glesnes, 31, and Wagner, 29, are Geiner Martinez, 23, and Japhet Sery Larsen, 25.
This has been a lopsided series of late, with D.C. failing to notch a win in the last nine meetings (0-6-3). In Washington, Philadelphia rolled to a 6-0 victory the last time the teams met.
“There’s a lot of emotion to it for all of us, especially how the last game went for us at home against them. It has to be personal,” D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett said. “It’s a team that has a target on their back. They were first in the East.”
–Field Level Media
