The Philadelphia Union announced on Thursday that left back Sheanon Williams, plus an international roster spot, had been traded to the Houston Dynamo for allocation money and future considerations. Due to MLS rules, the nature of the future considerations was not disclosed.

With Williams leaving the team, it signals the end of an era in Philadelphia Union history, as the only player remaining from the inaugural season in 2010 is Sebastien Le Toux.  In his time with the Union, Williams started 130 games from 2011-2015. One of his most known qualities was his ability to launch long throw-ins when the Union had a throw-in near the opponent’s goal. 

“I want to thank Sheanon Williams for everything he gave to this club. He represented the badge well,” head coach Jim Curtin said in his press conference Friday. “It’s never easy. It’s a tough part of the business but, in this league, in order to get quality you need to be able to part with quality.”

The quality Curtin may be referring to is Swiss international and winger Tranquillo Barnetta, who practiced with the team on Friday. 

“He is here seeing if Philadelphia and MLS is a fit. It’s a player whose pedigree speaks for itself," Philadelphia’s Technical Director Chris Albright to reporters Friday. “Right now, it’s feeling out process for him.”

In the meantime, with Williams sent to Houston, there is a major problem of fullback depth on the Union roster.  Currently, the only outside backs on the roster are Fabinho, Raymon Gaddis and Raymond Lee. Michael Lahoud can also play fullback as well. However, at least for this Sunday’s game versus D.C. United, Raymond Lee and Michael Lahoud will both not be available for selection. With both Lahoud and Lee out, there is no depth at the position leaving Curtin to have to make a choice with his available players.

“We have a plan who will move back if, unfortunately, Ray or [Fabinho] takes a knock or is sent off. I have an idea for the short term for Sunday to get us through that game. Long-term, longer term, there is also some ideas to get some depth there. It is no secret we are thin at the outside back spot. It is a bit of a risk that we took but it is one we thought needed to make to free up some things for us,” Curtin remarked about the Union’s plans for fullbacks.

In the short term, the Union will have to make do with who is currently on the roster as the Union are currently full, at seven players, with the amount of international roster spots. The Union only have seven international roster spots due to trading one of the spots in this trade. On Friday, Albright said that a couple of those international spots could be freed up.

Long term, or once the Union can free up international spots, it is imperative for them to look for depth at the outside back position as there is no real viable backup. Raymond Lee, a rookie, is the only real depth the Union possess, but it would unfair to consider him ready to start for the team. In his one appearance against Sporting Kansas City in early April, Lee played 12 minutes at the end of the game, where the Union conceded two late goals and lost 3-2.

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