Daniel Gazdag, from Hungary to making his mark in the MLS
The central midfielder has become one of the league's key figures and the versatile star of Philadelphia Union.
He arrived in the United States in May 2021. He was playing for Budapest Honvéd FC when Philadelphia took a chance on him, paying $1.8 million and offering him a two-season contract.
Philadelphia Union's Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner, described him: "A versatile player who can play multiple positions in both midfield and up front and has the ability to make an immediate impact."
In his first year, he showed glimpses of his quality, but it was last season when he became indispensable. He was the second-highest scorer of the regular season with 22 goals, just behind Mukhtar, and added six assists.
The 27-year-old Hungarian was part of the MLS Best XI in 2022. Moreover, he was joined by three other Philadelphia players: Wagner, Glesnes, and Blake.
He was crucial for the club in a historic year. They lost the MLS Cup final to LAFC, but they achieved the second-best goal difference in the history of the league: +46.
Unlike last season, Gazdag is not among the 30 MVP nominees. Nonetheless, his numbers still place him among the best. He scored 14 goals in the league and racked up 2,736 minutes.
His performance has delighted the board, leading to a contract extension. He signed the renewal in January this year, keeping him tied to the club until December 2025.
The agreement also includes an option for 2026. According to Tanner, Gazdag is the franchise player for the team. In fact, this year he switched his number 6 jersey for the 10.
His market value has grown significantly since his arrival in the United States. It was around one million dollars before coming and now is estimated to be around eight million.
After the match against Inter Miami, Gazdag posted a photo with Messi that went viral. He said he had met his hero, and his partner commented on the post: "He never looks at me like that."
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