Philadelphia signs M Ben Bender to new contract

The Philadelphia Union announced a new contract with midfielder Ben Bender on Wednesday.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick is signed through June 2027 with an option through June 2028.

Bender, 24, has seven goals and seven assists in 58 MLS matches with Charlotte FC (2022-24) and Philadelphia (2025).

"Ben has been a positive addition and has made meaningful contributions since returning to the Union last May," head coach Bradley Carnell said. "When given opportunities, he's consistently made the most of them, bringing a high level of competitiveness and a strong work ethic to the pitch every day. We're confident in his continued development and future impact with the team."

Bender appeared in seven matches (four starts) last season, posting a career-best 82% pass completion rate across 320 minutes.