Austin FC brings in defender Brandan Craig on loan from Union

Austin FC has caught one of the spinning plates it's hinted at — in the form of U.S. youth international and Philadelphia Union homegrown player Brandan Craig. 

The club announced Wednesday afternoon that the 19-year-old youth international will move to Verde on loan through the end of the 2023 MLS season. Head coach Josh Wolff, in recent weeks, has alluded to the club "spinning plates" to patch the hole in the roster left by outgoing loanee Aleksandar Radovanovic.

Wolff has hinted at short-term solutions to the team's season-long center-back depth issues, and Craig may be that on his own. Craig recently played with Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff for the U.S. at the U-20 World Cup, and went the full 90 in each of the Yanks' five matches. 

According to the release, in exchange for Craig's services, the Union "receives Austin’s natural third-round pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and may also receive up to $125,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) depending on performance-based incentives." 

Craig made his MLS Next Pro debut for the Union in 2020. According to the release, "He has since gone on to make 38 appearances for Union II across MLS NEXT Pro and the USL Championship." 

Craig made a short, three-minute sub appearance for his first-team debut in last year's July 8 7-0 rout of D.C. United. This year, he occupies one of the supplemental spots on the Union roster, yet to make a first-team 2023 appearance, and will similarly occupy the same for Verde.

According to Transfermarkt, Craig primarily plays as a central defender, but also can rotate to right back and defensive midfield. 

“I’m happy to join Austin FC and look forward to doing whatever I can to help the team for the remainder of this season,” said Craig by way of release. 

New Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell also made his first appearance in a club release about a player, credited with saying, "Brandan is a young center back who possesses good instincts and quality on the ball. We’re excited to welcome him to Austin.”

With the acquisition, Austin FC currently has one senior roster spot and one supplemental spot open on this opening day of the summer transfer window.