The Philadelphia Union walked away from the Charlotte FC expansion draft with no available players selected. On Tuesday night, Charlotte selected five unprotected players from any eligible MLS club, none of which came from the Union roster.

The Union left more than a few contributors for the 2022 exposed, including defender Stuart Findlay, midfielder Jesus Bueno and forward Cory Burke. The team was only able to protect 12 players, with homegrowns exempt.

Charlotte FC selections

• McKinze Gaines (Austin FC)
• Anton Walkes (Atlanta United)
• Joseph Mora (DC United)
• Tristan Blackmon (LAFC)
• Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (NYCFC)

Charlotte selected Austin forward McKinze Gaines, Atlanta United defender Anton Walkes, D.C. United defender Joseph Mora, Los Angeles FC defender Tristian Blackmon, and New York City FC winger Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, on the same day that he was celebrating an MLS Cup victory in New York with NYCFC.

Blackmon and Tajouri-Shradi were only Charlotte players for a short time as both were traded for allocation money. Blackmon was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps for $350,000 in 2022 general allocation money and $125,00 in 2023 general allocation money. Tajouri-Shradi was traded to LAFC for $400,000 in general allocation money.

The last time a Union player was selected in an expansion draft was back in 2014 when Orlando City took Ribeiro. The only other time a Union player was selected in an expansion draft was Justin Mapp by Montreal in 2011. 

Mandatory Credit: Charolette FC