End of season awards
Blake & Glesnes win accolades - Underline success of Philadelphia Union's squad build
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Major League Soccer has announced that Philadelphia Union stars Andre Blake and Jakob Glesnes have won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS Defender of the Year awards. The accolades further underline the success of the Union this season, who finished first in the Eastern Conference with 67 points from 34 games with just 26 goals conceded.
The Union conceded just 26 goals in those games, and Blake kept 15 clean sheets this season—more than any other goalkeeper during the regular season (overview). Blake saved 79.4 percent of the shots he faced in 2022, more than any other goalkeeper to have played at least three games this season in MLS.
Glesnes, in the meantime, led a defense that has conceded the viewest goals in history since the MLS regular season has gone to 34 games. Furthermore, the Union conceded just nine goals at home and were the only team in the league to concede less than ten goals during the regular season. Glesnes was second in the league with 17 blocks at home and led his team with 57 interceptions.
Insigne, Almada & Co. - The most valuable MLS players
Jefferson Savarino | Real Salt Lake City | Market value: $6.6m
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Djordje Mihailovic | CF Montréal | Market value: $6.6m
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Efraín Álvarez | LA Galaxy | Market value: $6.6m
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Ryan Gauld | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Market value: $7.15m
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Carles Gil | New England Revolution | Market value: $7.7m
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Riqui Puig | LA Galaxy | Market value: $7.7m
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Brenner | FC Cincinnati | Market value: $7.7m
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Facundo Torres | Orlando City SC | Market value: $7.7m
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Dániel Sallói | Sporting Kansas City | Market value: $8.25m
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Gabriel Slonina | Chicago Fire FC | Market value: $8.25m
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Lucas Zelarayán | Columbus Crew | Market value: $8.8m
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Josef Martínez | Atlanta United FC | Market value: $8.8m
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Federico Bernardeschi | Toronto FC | Market value: $8.8m
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Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | Market value: $8.8m
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Denis Bouanga | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $8.8m
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Luiz Araújo | Atlanta United FC | Market value: $8.8m
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Jesús Ferreira | FC Dallas | Market value: $8.8m
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Alan Velasco | FC Dallas | Market value: $8.8m
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Cucho Hernández | Columbus Crew | Market value: $9.9m
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Sebastián Driussi | Austin FC | Market value: $11.0m
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Emanuel Reynoso | Minnesota United FC | Market value: $11.0m
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José Cifuentes | Los Angeles FC | Market value: $11.0m
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Talles Magno | New York City FC | Market value: $11.0m
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Thiago Almada | Atlanta United FC | Market value: $16.5m
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Lorenzo Insigne | Toronto FC | Market value: $22.0m
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Glesnes & Blake: Crucial pieces of a successful Philadelphia Union side
While Blake was comfortably the number-one choice to win the goalkeeper of the year award, Glesnes had some internal competitions. The Norwegian finished ahead of his German teammate Kai Wagner, who came in second place overall but secured the majority of the club votes (29.3% over Glesnes' 28.5%)—Glesnes had the most votes among the media and players.
Player Comparison
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
€4.00m
Market Value
€5.00m
Centre-Back
Position
Left-Back
Dec 31, 2025
Contract until
Dec 31, 2026
Full Player Comparison
The remarkable part about all three players is that they cost the Union nothing in transfer fees and have increased their value significantly since joining the club. Blake was drafted from UConn Huskies in 2014 and has since increased his market value to €2.5m. Glesnes was signed for little money from Strømsgodset and has since increased his market value to €3m. Finally, Wagner arrived from Würzburger Kickers and has a market value of €4m and is in high demand in Europe. Not surprising, the Union have the fifth-best purchase value in MLS (overview).
Insigne, Shaqiri, Chicharito & Co. - The highest paid players in MLS in 2022
Sebastian Driussi | Austin FC | Salary: $2.32m
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Market value: $11m (All salaries guaranteed compensation)
Thiago Almada | Atlanta United | Salary: $2.33m
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Market value: $16.5m
Walker Zimmerman | Columbus Crew | Salary: $2.35m
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Market value: $3.85m
Gastón Gimenez | Chicago Fire | Salary: $2.36m
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Market value: $2.75m
Gareth Bale | LAFC | Salary: $2.39m
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Market value: $3.3m
Gustavo Bou | New England Revolution | Salary: $2.68m
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Market value: $6.6m
Carlos Vela | LAFC | Salary: $4.05m
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Market value: $3.85m
Cucho Hernández | Columbus Crew | Salary: $2.89m
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Market value: $9.9m
Victor Wanyama | CF Montréal | Salary: $3.09m
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Market value: $4.4m
Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders | Salary: $3.2m
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Market value: $6.6m
Franco Jara | FC Dallas | Salary: $3.23m
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Market value: $1.65m
Nicolás Lodeiro | Seattle Sounders | Salary: $3.26m
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Market value: $2.75m
Rodolfo Pizarro | Inter Miami CF (on loan at Monterrey) | Salary: $3.35m
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Market value: $4.4m
Carles Gil | New England Revolution | Salary: $3.54m
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Market value: $7.7m
Lucas Zelarayán | Columbus Crew | Salary: $3.7m
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Market value: $8.8m
Josef Martínez | Atlanta United | Salary: $4.14m
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Market value: $8.8m
Christian Benteke | D.C. United | Salary: $4.18m
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Market value: $5.5m
Jozy Altidore | NERevs (on loan at Puebla) | Salary: $4.26m
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Market value: $550,000
Luiz Araújo | Atlanta United | Salary: $4.5m
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Market value: $8.8m
Alejandro Pozuelo | Inter Miami CF | Salary: $4.69m
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Market value: $6.6m
Hector Herrera | Houston Dynamo | Salary: $5.25m
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Market value: $3.3m
Gonzalo Higuaín | Inter Miami CF | Salary: $5.79m
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Market value: $2.2m
Douglas Costa | LA Galaxy | Salary: $5.8m
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Market value: $2.75m
Chicharito | LA Galaxy | Salary: $6m
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Market value: $2.2m
Federico Bernardeschi | Toronto FC | Salary: $6.25m
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Market value: $8.8m
Xherdan Shaqiri | Chicago Fire FC | Salary: $8.15m
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Market value: $5.5m
Lorenzo Insigne | Toronto FC | Salary: $14m
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Market value: $22m