The Philadelphia Union announced today that forward CJ Sapong has agreed to an extension on his current contract, giving him another three years in Philadelphia. Sapong was initially added to the roster following the Amobi Okugo trade with Sporting Kansas City in December of 2014. While with Kansas City, Sapong was the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year, and set the record for the fastest goal by a rookie in MLS history when he scored two minutes into his first game against Chivas USA. The 2015 season started out rough for the striker with Sapong suffering a facial fracture and getting a DUI, however the striker turned it around and ended the season with nine goals and four assists. When Sapong spoke with the media on media day, Sapong stated how excited he is for this season and how ready he feels. As he and Fabian Herbers are the only strikers currently on the Union's roster, he will be the player fans should point to for goals this season.
Sporting Director Earnie Stewart praised Sapong, saying "We value the energy C.J. brings every day and we’re very happy to have him committed to our club for the long term. His athleticism and natural finishing abilities make him a true difference maker and we have the utmost confidence he will settle in as a leader for the team, ultimately becoming a building block for our club for years to come."
There is no indication as to whether or not there will be a pay increase, but the deal will last until the end of 2018.