Union re-sign midfielder Brian Carroll

The Philadelphia Union have re-signed defensive midfielder Brian Carroll, the club announced today. This upcoming season will be Carroll's sixth with the club, making him the Union's longest continuously tenured player.

Carroll, 34, has technically been a free agent for the past few weeks, but Jim Curtin himself confirmed that the player would return to the club back in early December.

The veteran midfielder made 22 appearances in 2015, topping his total of 21 from the year prior. Carroll was thrust into a starting role last year as a result of Maurice Edu's move to the back line. With added depth in the center of defense, it looks like Edu will be able to focus solely on defensive midfield, but that does not preclude Carroll from suddenly becoming a starter again. With Michael Lahoud on loan to the New York Cosmos, Carroll is the only other defensive midfielder on the roster.

The re-signing puts the Union's roster at 18 players, with unsigned draft picks Taylor Washington, Mitchell Lurie, and Cole Missimo hoping to add to that total.