Philadelphia Union sign center back Jakob Glesnes to multi-year contract extension
Photo Credit: Philadelphia Union
Fans will be screaming “shoot” when defender Jakob Glesnes has the ball anywhere on the pitch for years to come, as the 31-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with the team on Tuesday, August 19.
Per the team’s official announcement, Glesnes’ new deal with the Union is guaranteed through the 2027 MLS season with an option for 2028. His current deal was set to expire at the end of this season, but it did include a club option for 2026. Glesnes is making $1,238,125 this season, making him the second-highest earner at the club.
“Jakob has been a reliable presence and an essential piece of our backline that has contributed to the team’s success, earning well-deserved individual recognition along the way,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner, in a statement. “His dedication to our style of play has been vital to the team’s success and his emergence as a leader has made a significant impact. We’re happy to have come to an agreement to keep him in Philadelphia for the years ahead.”
Glesnes signed for the Union in 2020 from Stromsgodset in Norway’s Eliteserien, where he played four seasons (2016-19).
Since coming to Philadelphia, Glesnes has been one of the club’s most consistent players. He won the 2022 MLS Defender of the Year Award and is a three-time All-Star. He is the only player in club history to win Defender of the Year and just the franchise’s second three-time All-Star. The Norwegian has 217 appearances in all competitions for the Union and has started 171 of the 174 MLS games he has featured in. He is one of four players in Union history with 200 or more starts for the club, along with goalkeeper Andre Blake, midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, and defender Kai Wagner.
Glesnes was a key member of one of the league’s best defenses of all time. The 2022 Union conceded just 26 goals in 34 games, breaking the MLS record for the fewest goals conceded in a 34-game season. Glesnes would start all 34 games and lead his team to a club record 15 clean sheets.
While the 31-year-old has been awarded for his defense, Glesnes is also known for his goal-scoring ability. The center back has 10 goals in 18,586 minutes played for the Union, including world-class finishes against LAFC, Atlanta United, and New York Red Bulls in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
After a down season in 2024, Glesnes has returned to Defender of the Year form in 2025.
He has started 23 of the 24 MLS games he’s appeared in this season, registering a goal and two assists in 1,968 minutes played. The Union backline has allowed the least amount of goals (25) and the least amount of shots (95) this season, while recording nine clean sheets, tied for second most in MLS. In three MLS games without Glesnes this season, the Union has lost twice and drawn once, conceding twice while failing to score on all three occasions.
Glesnes serves as the team’s captain when Blake or Bedoya are not in the starting lineup.
