Jeremy Rafanello

Jeremy Rafanello came through Philadelphia Union's own academy, and the club made that formal on 23 August 2022 when he signed a Homegrown Player contract. Rafanello spent time out on loan and away from home, playing for Bethlehem Steel, Reading United, Danish side FC Helsingør and Indy Eleven before a spell at New York Red Bulls II, where he became just the 15th player in that club's history to reach double figures for goals. Philadelphia Union brought him back into the fold afterwards.

At Penn State, Rafanello was named to the Big Ten all-freshman team. He also went abroad early with the United States under-19 side, playing three matches and scoring once, and came home with bronze from the Slovakia Cup.

Since establishing himself with Philadelphia, Rafanello has made 19 appearances in MLS and scored three goals. In 2025, the club won the Supporters' Shield, and Rafanello was part of that squad. The Union have since backed him with a new contract running through 2026, with club options attached for 2027 and 2028, signed in October 2024 — a vote of confidence in a player who spent several seasons working his way through loan spells before settling into the first team he grew up supporting.