Released by West Brom, Danny Barbir back home training with the Philadelphia Union

U.S. youth international center back Danny Barbir is back in the area training with the Philadelphia Union after being released by West Bromwich Albion in England.

The 19-year-old was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up in the Allentown area. He was part of the Philadelphia Union Academy in its pre-U.S. Soccer Development Academy days as a member of the New Jersey club Players Development Academy, a Union youth club affiliate.

As a dual national - his father was born in Romania - Barbir was able to go abroad when he turned 16, joining Manchester City’s youth academy in 2014. He signed his first professional contract with West Bromwich Albion a year later and had a goal in 10 appearances for West Brom’s U23 team in 2016-17.

He made two appearances for the United States U17 team at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

Given the Union’s depth and youth at the center back position - Oguchi Onyewu is the only one of their six center backs over the age of 25 - it’s hard to see where Barbir would fit in with the team or if his training stint is anything more than a chance to stay sharp while he seeks a new club home.

Head coach Jim Curtin told media on Thursday that Barbir is only with the team to stay fit, but a similar comment was made back in preseason about Onyewu, who went on to sign with the team a week later.

Like Downingtown native Zack Steffen before him, Babir is not on the allocation list and could be signed using the league’s discovery mechanism - a rule that allows teams to stake a claim on a player should they become available.

The Union currently have one first-team roster spot open, cleared when midfielder Eric Ayuk was loaned out to Sweden.