Breaking News: Union Finalizing Deal with North Carolina FC

Photograph Credit: Philadelphia Union Media Team

Well, talk about timing, right? Jose Nunez (AAT Sports and MLS contributor) broke the news on Sunday afternoon that the Union are finishing a deal to loan Oliver Semmle to North Carolina FC. I've provided Jose's full tweet below for reference.

Yesterday, Andre Blake suffered a right leg injury, which forced him to leave the Union's match in Harrison, NJ. Andrew Rick, the heir apparent for Andre, then stepped in at the 28th minute to close out the game. Rick has been a saving grace for Philadelphia this season, and he has filled in admirably for his Jamaican teammate. Unfortunately, Dylan Nealis was able to beat Andrew in the 1-0 defeat to New York, but the defense didn't do Rick any favors on that sequence either.

This is another season where Blake has dealt with lingering injuries (and international duty absences), and we've seen how much this club misses him between the posts during those periods. In an attempt to resolve this issue, Ernst Tanner acquired Oliver Semmle from Louisville City FC before the 2024 season. Prior to the Union, Oliver had 32 appearances for the USL Championship side, where he earned 13 clean sheets and 72 saves. At the time of his acquisition, it was clear that Oliver, Holden Trent, and Andrew Rick would be competing for the 2nd spot on the first team.

Oliver stepped in for Blake throughout the 2024 campaign. He played in 17 matches with 14 starts and 3 clean sheets. He also conceded 29 goals, and despite a strong start to his Union tenure, he eventually fell out of the rotation once Blake returned in the Summer.

This year, there were some concerns as to who would be Blake's backup, but those questions were quickly answered by Rick's performances. The 19 year-old has shown impressive ability for such a young player, and as a result, Oliver has become an afterthought. Semmle did see some time with Union II this season, where he started 5 matches, had 1 clean sheet, and gave up 5 goals. Unfortunately, it became clear that Oliver was not in Tanner's plans for the club moving forward, and he is now being sent back to the USL Championship.

The timing of this is a tough pill to swallow. Blake's injury (seems to be right hamstring area) has no clear timeline yet, so the burden will rest on Rick's shoulders. The Philadelphia Union find themselves in an Open Cup and Supporters' Shield race, and each match will feel like a playoff game during these final few months. Furthermore, if Andre is out for an extended time, we aren't sure who will fill in as the backup goalkeeper. Pierce Holbrook and Michael Sheridan have both seen time with Union II, and as of now, they appear to be next in line.

The Summer window doesn't close until August 21st, so Ernst Tanner does have time to sign a keeper. Additionally, Semmle's departure opens up an international spot in the roster, which is very intriguing.

We have a couple of days to go before the window closes and we learn more about Blake's injury. Union fans will be crossing their fingers that Tanner can bring in the right pieces to push for a title this season.