Burke close to deal with Red Bulls

After a season which saw him miss out on an MLS Cup title, national striker Cory Burke is saying goodbye to the Philadelphia Union and closing in on a move to one of his club’s biggest rivals.

Burke, 31, is reportedly finalising a deal to join Major League Soccer franchise the New York Red Bulls, which will last for two seasons with an option for a third in 2025, according to a report on MLSSoccer.com and which was first reported by American journalist Kristian Dyer on Wednesday. Burke was coming to the end of his contract with the Union and had his option declined on November 15, making him a free agent. However, the club was negotiating for him to return next year.

Burke has spent his entire MLS career with the Union, making 110 appearances and scoring 30 goals. This season, he has been used in a super sub role but scored eight goals and registered four assists, including the play-offs in which he helped the Union advance to their first MLS Cup final. It was a final that they would end up losing 3-0 on penalties to Los Angeles FC, after the game ended 3-3 in extra time.

Burke, who on Thursday confirmed his exit after four years on Instagram, expressed his gratitude to the fans for the support, saying that it was not an easy decision to leave.

“I would have loved to continue here. I did everything with that goal and, in the end, it didn’t work. I only have words of gratitude for everyone, all my teammates, coaches, everyone who has joined me in so many years through my ups and downs, the tears we shed, the heartbreak, the celebrations at this club,” Burke said. “And for our fans, who gave me all their love and I tried to give it back by giving everything for this shirt, this city, this state. I’m leaving but it’s not goodbye it’s just a see you later. Because goodbye is the hardest thing to say.”

Burke will be leaving a club that he has helped to domestic success, as part of the team that lifted the Supporter’s Shield, the regular season championship in 2020, their first piece of silverware in the club’s history. It was a season that saw Burke return to the club after he had encountered visa issues which forced him to return to Jamaica in 2019 until those were resolved.

If finalised, Burke would join Dane Richards and Kemar Lawrence as Jamaican internationals who have played for the Red Bulls.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com