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U.S. men's national team defender Mark McKenzie is preparing for a homecoming to the United States.
MLS side Philadelphia Union, the club where McKenzie developed during the early stages of his career, is close to completing a transfer worth approximately $2.5 million for the World Cup participant from Ligue 1's FC Toulouse, according to a report from The Athletic.
McKenzie, who is entering the final year of his deal with the French outfit, won't complete the transfer until January, however, as Toulouse is keen to retain him through the summer.
The 27-year-old was a cornerstone for Toulouse last season, registering 28 starts at center back as the club wrapped up ninth place in the league table. His steady performances ultimately earned him a 2026 World Cup selection under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, where he played the full 90 minutes in the group stage closer against Türkiye. He has accumulated 30 caps for the national team.
Mark McKenzie Returns to His Roots
McKenzie owes much of his professional foundation to the Philadelphia Union.
The six-foot defensive anchor, who was raised in nearby Bear, Delaware, joined Philadelphia Union's youth academy in 2015 and quickly began featuring for the senior club's reserve side, then known as the Bethlehem Steel.
He inked a homegrown contract with the Union in 2018 at just 19 years of age and instantly made his presence felt on the backline. He logged 19 regular season appearances that campaign, including 18 starts, and was nominated as a finalist for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year Award after helping guide the Union into the playoffs. McKenzie remained with the Union through the 2020 season, starting 23 games while chipping in two goals and three assists. He also earned his first USMNT cap in February of that year.
McKenzie accumulated a total of 59 first-team appearances for the Union before putting pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year contract with Belgian club Genk, his penultimate stop before joining Toulouse.
The Union will not only be welcoming back a homegrown defensive star, but also a seasoned mentor for their younger players. Philadelphia boasts two promising teenage USMNT prospects who stand to benefit greatly from McKenzie's presence in the dressing room. Sixteen-year-old winger Cavan Sullivan, who will stay with the Union until he turns 18 before heading to Manchester City of the English Premier League, is expected to earn his senior national team debut as early as this September.
Meanwhile, McKenzie's central defensive partner is likely to be 18-year-old Neil Pierre, who has impressed on the backline since returning from loan this summer. The 6'5" defensive powerhouse will undoubtedly look to draw on McKenzie's experience of what it takes to reach international level as he similarly awaits a call-up from Pochettino.