The Union Monday made official a deal to send Jack McGlynn to Houston for a return of $2.1 million in cash.
The deal could increase to $3.4 million if certain performance incentives are hit by McGlynn in his new home. The Union also retain a “significant future sell on and trade percentage” on the 21-year-old. The deal was consummated with cash instead of allocation money, a new device instituted this season. McGlynn’s deal is just the second done that way, the first being Saturday’s transfer of forward Dejan Joveljic from the LA Galaxy to Sporting KC.
“We want to thank Jack for his dedication and contributions to the team, both on and off the field,” Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner said in a press release. “Over the past three years, he has been a key part of our midfield, and we are incredibly proud of his growth. At this time, we believe this move is best for both the club and for Jack, allowing us to use the significant proceeds to reinvest and refine our roster, while placing him in an environment suited to his style of play and continued development. We have no doubt he’ll enjoy a successful career, and we look forward to following his journey.”
McGlynn was a bright spot in a dour 2024, accounting for four goals and seven assists while playing 30 games (25 starts). He played nearly every available game around an absence to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics. McGlynn has three career caps with the U.S. senior team, scoring his first goal in January.
McGlynn made 99 regular-season appearances with the Union (56 starts), scoring seven goals and 13 assists. He added two assists in nine playoff games, plus a memorable goal in the shootout of the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinal against Nashville. He signed a pre-contract with the Union in August 2020, making him the club’s 14th Homegrown signing.
But McGlynn was coming up on the last year of his contract, with further options, though the Union would likely have had to greatly increase his salary on what will be his third pro contract. The 21-year-old’s lack of speed and defensive attributes doesn’t fit the counterattacking style of new coach Bradley Carnell. It’s more suited to Houston, which led MLS last year with 59.3 percent possession and was third in total touches.
McGlynn joins the laundry list of exits since the beginning of the 2024 season: Julian Carranza, Jose Martinez, Damion Lowe, Jack Elliott, Leon Flach. They’ve thus far been replaced by Danley Jean Jacques, Ian Glavinovich and a parade of Homegrowns.
Source: Berkshire mont