The Philadelphia Union is in the final stages of securing a transfer for Toulouse and U.S. international defender Mark McKenzie, as confirmed by a source to ESPN.
At 27 years old, McKenzie will join as a Designated Player, set to arrive in January 2027, just ahead of the MLS Sprint Season, which will occur as MLS transitions to a Summer-Spring calendar later that year. The reported transfer fee is approximately $2.5 million.
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The Athletic was the first to break the news.
If the deal is finalized, this would mark the second occasion this season that the Union has signed a former player to a DP contract, following the re-signing of left back Kai Wagner from Birmingham City earlier this year.
While the Union has a strong focus on promoting players from its academy, it’s also utilized veterans to bolster the team, and McKenzie’s experience and leadership will be beneficial in this aspect.
McKenzie, who hails from the Union’s academy, made his first-team debut in 2018. He went on to play 59 matches in all competitions, netting two goals and leading the Union to the 2020 Supporters’ Shield.
In 2021, the New York City native transferred to Belgian club Genk, where he helped secure the 2021 Belgian Cup. After spending nearly four seasons in Belgium, McKenzie later joined Ligue 1 side Toulouse, where he has played for the past two seasons.
On the international stage, McKenzie has earned 30 caps for the U.S. men’s national team and was part of the squad that competed in the 2026 World Cup. He completed the full 90 minutes in the team’s 3-2 group-stage loss to Türkiye.