Kai Wagner

Not to be confused with Kai Wegner.

Kai Wagner
Wagner with the Philadelphia Union in 2019
Personal information
Full name Kai Harley Wagner[1]
Date of birth (1997-02-15) 15 February 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Geislingen an der Steige, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 27
Youth career
2001–2009 SV Lonsee
2009–2014 SSV Ulm
2015 FC Augsburg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 SSV Ulm 32 (1)
2016–2017 Schalke 04 II 33 (0)
2017–2019 Würzburger Kickers 40 (0)
2019– Philadelphia Union 149 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 December 2023

Kai Harley Wagner (born 15 February 1997) is a German professional footballer who plays as a left-back for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

Career

SSV Ulm

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Wagner signed his first professional contract at 18 years old with SSV Ulm competing in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg, the fifth tier of German football.[2] Wagner made 32 appearances and scored one goal, helping earn SSV Ulm the championship title and promotion to the fourth tier Regionalliga.[2]

Schalke 04

In summer of 2016, Wagner secured a transfer to Schalke 04 II competing in the Regionalliga West, the fourth tier of German football.[3]

Würzburger Kickers

Wagner playing for Würzburger Kickers

In June 2017, Wagner secured a transfer to Würzburger Kickers competing in the 3. Liga, the third tier of German football after being relegated at the conclusion of the 2016–17 season.[4]

Philadelphia Union

In February 2019, Wagner signed with Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union for an undisclosed transfer fee.[5] Wagner would emerge as one of the best left backs in MLS, contributing 30 appearances and 8 assists in his first season with the Union.[6][7]

The 2020 season improved on the 2019 season, despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kai contributed to the Union's advancing to the semi-finals of the MLS is Back Tournament including his first goal for the Union in a 2–1 win over Inter Miami CF.[8] The Union finished the season with the best league record earning the team's first trophy, the 2020 Supporters' Shield.[9][10] Wagner contributed 14 starts, one goal, and two assists in the Union's championship season.[11]

In January 2021, Wagner signed a new contract with the Union through the 2022 season, with an option for 2023.[12] In August 2021, Wagner was selected to the 2021 MLS All-Star Game versus the Liga MX All-Star team.[13]

On 7 November 2023, Wagner was suspended for three games by Major League Soccer for violating the league's anti-discrimination policy. The violation happened on 28 October 2023, during a match against New England Revolution when Wagner called an opposing forward, Bobby Wood, a slur considered racist towards Asian people.[14]

On January 11, 2024, the Union re-signed Wagner to a new three-year contract that would keep him in Chester through the 2026 MLS Season. This contract included a club option for the 2027 MLS season as well. This signing comes after months of speculation that Wagner would not return to the Union, and instead head overseas to play in Europe.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of 28 October 2023[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
SSV Ulm 2015–16 Oberliga Baden-Württemberg 32 1 0 0 – – 32 1
Schalke 04 II 2016–17 Regionalliga West 33 0 – – – 33 0
Würzburger Kickers 2017–18 3. Liga 27 0 0 0 – – 27 0
2018–19 13 0 0 0 – – 13 0
Total 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 0
Philadelphia Union 2019 MLS 30 0 1[a] 0 – 2[b] 0 33 0
2020 11 0 – – 7[c] 1 18 1
2021 33 3 – 6[d] 0 2[b] 0 41 3
2022 33 0 1[a] 0 – 3[b] 0 37 0
2023 28 1 1[a] 2 5[d] 0 8[e] 0 42 3
Total 135 4 3 2 11 0 22 1 171 7
Career total 240 5 3 2 11 0 22 1 276 8
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. ^ Six appearances and one goal in MLS is Back Tournament, one appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs
  4. ^ a b Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  5. ^ Seven appearances in Leagues Cup, one appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs

Honours

SSV Ulm

Philadelphia Union

Individual

References

  1. ^ "2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – Club roster: Philadelphia Union (USA)" (PDF). CONCACAF. 30 January 2024. p. 21. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Gerold Knehr (21 July 2020). "Kai Wagner: Von den Spatzen in die US-Profiliga MLS – eine nicht alltägliche Karriere". swp.de (in German). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  3. ^ "RL West: Holtby und Neustädter sind dabei". fussball.de (in German). 29 July 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Würzburger Kickers verpflichten zwei Fußball-Talente". welt.de (in German). 10 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Kai Wagner". Philadelphia Union. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. ^ Matthew De George (9 April 2019). "Once an unknown, Union's Kai Wagner emerges as one of MLS's best left backs". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  7. ^ Joe Tansey (15 September 2019). "Philadelphia Union's Kai Wagner adds to resume as "best left back in league"". ProSoccerUSA. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  8. ^ Jonathan Tannenwald (15 July 2020). "Kacper Przybylko, Kai Wagner lead Union over Inter Miami, 2-1, and into MLS tournament round of 16". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  9. ^ Jonathan Tannenwald (8 November 2020). "Union seal the Supporters' Shield, their first-ever trophy, with 2-0 win over New England". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  10. ^ Dave Uram (9 November 2020). "Philadelphia Union win their first trophy — the Supporters' Shield". KYW Newsradio. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  11. ^ Daniel Garza (19 November 2020). "Philadelphia Union: Will Kai Wagner be the next big departure?". mlsmultiplex.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Kai Wagner To New Contract". Philadelphia Union. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b Jonathan Tannenwald (5 August 2021). "Union's Kai Wagner celebrates his first MLS All-Star team selection". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner suspended 3 matches". MLS Soccer. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Philadelphia Union Sign Defender Kai Wagner To New Contract". Philadelphia Union. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  16. ^ "United States – K. Wagner – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway.
  17. ^ "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (5 November 2022). "Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 MLS All-Star Game Roster". Major League Soccer. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. ^ "2022 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire". Major League Soccer. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
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