Brandan Craig Bio
Brandan Andrew Craig (born April 7, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender and defensive midfielder for CF Montréal in Major League Soccer. A product of the Philadelphia Union Academy, Craig made his professional debut in 2020 and has represented the United States at multiple youth international levels.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Craig rose through the Union development system as a teenager, becoming one of the youngest captains in Philadelphia Union II history during the 2020 USL League One season. After several seasons in Philadelphia and loan spells in MLS and the USL Championship, he joined CF Montréal in February 2025.
Early Life and Background
Brandan Andrew Craig was born on April 7, 2004, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He grew up in the Philadelphia area, a region with a strong soccer tradition and a deep connection to Major League Soccer through the city’s long-established MLS franchise. In addition to his American citizenship, Craig holds a British passport because his father was born in England, giving him dual nationality.
Craig joined the Philadelphia Union Academy at an early age and progressed through the club’s youth system, playing for the academy’s U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19 squads across a four-year stretch. That pathway gave him daily training environments designed to prepare top academy players for senior-level competition, and it allowed him to develop in a city where the senior team plays in one of North America’s top professional leagues.
Path to Soccer
Craig’s progression from the Philadelphia Union Academy to the club’s professional reserve side, Philadelphia Union II, marked his entry into competitive senior-level soccer. He made his league debut for Philadelphia Union II on July 22, 2020, entering the match at halftime as a substitute for Issa Rayyan in a 5–1 home defeat to New York Red Bulls II in USL League One. The appearance came when he was 16 years old, illustrating the Union’s trust in his development.
On September 3, 2020, during a regular season match against Atlanta United 2, Craig became the youngest captain in Philadelphia Union II team history, another milestone that highlighted his standing within the organization. He also represented the United States at the U-15, U-20, and U-23 levels, gaining international experience alongside his club duties.
Brandan Craig Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Craig began his senior career with Philadelphia Union II in 2020, playing in USL League One while still a teenager. His performances at the reserve level earned him recognition within the Union organization, and on January 1, 2021, he officially joined the Philadelphia Union’s MLS roster, becoming part of the senior team’s depth chart as a young defender and defensive midfielder.
He spent the 2021, 2022, and early 2023 MLS seasons with Philadelphia’s first team, training and competing in a competitive Eastern Conference environment. That stretch allowed him to adjust to the speed and physical demands of Major League Soccer while continuing to develop as a versatile option in central defense and in front of the back line.
Philadelphia Union Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Craig’s move to the Philadelphia Union’s MLS roster in January 2021 marked the beginning of his top-flight professional career. Working within a club known for its strong academy pipeline, he trained under the Union’s coaching staff and contributed as a depth piece for a team that regularly competes in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Union’s system, which emphasizes developing young players from the Philadelphia area, gave him a familiar environment in which to grow.
He continued to feature for Philadelphia Union II in USL League One during the early years of his professional career, building match experience at the reserve level while training with the first team. His ability to operate both as a central defender and as a defensive midfielder made him a flexible option for the Union’s coaching staff, who valued his composure on the ball and his reading of the game.
Loan Spells (2023–2024)
In July 2023, Craig was loaned to Austin FC of Major League Soccer, providing him with a new environment in the Western Conference. He did not make a first-team appearance during his time with Austin, and in February 2024, he was loaned to El Paso Locomotive FC of the USL Championship, a club based in Texas that competes at the second tier of American soccer.
Those loan moves were designed to give him regular first-team minutes in different settings, from a Western Conference MLS club to a USL Championship side. The experience allowed him to face varied playing styles, including matches in the Western Conference and along the southern United States, while remaining contracted to the Philadelphia Union organization.
CF Montréal Era (2025–Present)
Following his release from Philadelphia after the Union’s 2024 season, Craig signed with MLS side CF Montréal on February 7, 2025. The move to a Canadian club gave him a fresh start and an opportunity to establish himself as a regular contributor in Major League Soccer, with Montréal competing in the Eastern Conference.
At CF Montréal, Craig is listed as a defender and defensive midfielder, the same dual role he held in Philadelphia. His arrival added depth to Montréal’s back line and midfield, and his prior experience within the Union academy system and its developmental philosophy has shaped his approach as a professional.
Notable Events and Milestones
Craig’s most notable early milestone came on September 3, 2020, when he became the youngest captain in Philadelphia Union II team history during a regular season match against Atlanta United 2. That achievement underscored the trust the Union placed in him while he was still a teenager in USL League One.
Brandan Craig Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Craig was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up within a household connected to both the United States and the United Kingdom. His father was born in England, which has given Brandan Craig dual American and British citizenship through his British passport.
Personal Life
Outside of his professional career with CF Montréal, Craig continues to be identified publicly as a young American soccer player with ties to Philadelphia and to England through his father’s side of the family. His dual nationality reflects the international background that has shaped his upbringing.
2025 Season Performance
Brandan Craig joined CF Montréal on February 7, 2025, ahead of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, after his release from the Philadelphia Union following the 2024 campaign. The move placed him in a new Eastern Conference environment and offered a chance to compete for regular minutes as a defender and defensive midfielder.
Throughout the early part of the 2025 season, Craig has been part of Montréal’s squad, contributing depth along the back line and in defensive midfield. His familiarity with MLS, gained through years with the Philadelphia Union, has allowed him to transition into a new club without the adjustment challenges that often come with moves abroad.
As the 2025 season progresses, Craig’s role within CF Montréal’s rotation will likely be shaped by his ability to bring versatility to both defensive positions. Coming from an academy known for developing young American players, his long-term outlook remains tied to continued development and consistent performances in Major League Soccer.