In the wake of the Peter Nowak revelations, it may be easy to forget that the Union currently have 13 rostered players. According to Kevin Kinkead, that may be about to change.
I'm hearing that the Union will sign former NY Cosmos midfielder Walter Restrepo.
— Kevin Kinkead (@KevinKCBS3) January 7, 2016
New York-based Empire of Soccer later confirmed the report, providing further detail:
Following reports from Philly.com's (sic) Kevin Kinkead via Twitter, EoS can confirm that the Philadelphia Union have signed Walter Restrepo to a one-year deal, with a club option for year two. In return, sources tell EoS that the Union will pay a transfer fee for Restrepo and will also send an unnamed player to the Cosmos on a season-long loan.
EoS can confirm that the player will not be former Cosmos loanee Leo Fernandes.
Empire of Soccer also adds that the Union will pay a transfer fee in addition to the loan of an unnamed player. Kinkead is reporting that the Union will send a midfielder the Cosmos' way, with Eric Ayuk and Zach Pfeffer appearing to be the most plausible options.
Restrepo could have been under contract with the Cosmos for 2016, as the club possessed an option to extend his contract. At the request of Restrepo, the Cosmos agreed not to exercise the option in order to allow the player to try his luck in the transfer market.
Restrepo, 27, is an American-born Colombian winger who has spent his last five seasons in the NASL. The winger was named to the league's team of the season twice: in 2012 and 2014.
As seen in the ungodly-long highlight video below, Restrepo is a dribble-happy, out-and-out winger. With Chris Pontius and Sebastien Le Toux on the roster, he won't be a starter, but he adds experienced depth to a team that sorely lacks it.