When Kai Wagner’s name first popped up as a potential target of an MLS team, it didn’t require too much sleuthing to come up with the Philadelphia Union as an obvious destination for the 22-year-old German left back.
Not many who follow the Union closely knew much about the Würzburger Kickers in the third tier of German football, much less Wagner, so when his signing was announced in early February the assumption for many was that he’d be a depth option for 19-year-old U.S. international Matt Real.
But being an option off the bench was never Wagner’s intention.