Burke signs two-year contract with Philadelphia Union

After making his return to Major League Soccer (MLS) with the Philadelphia Union this year after 17 months in exile, national striker Cory Burke has extended his stay with the club for the foreseeable future.

The 28-year-old put pen to paper on a new two-year contract with the Union that will guarantee him staying with the club through to 2022 with an option for 2023. The announcement was made yesterday on the club's website.

Burke was forced to return to Jamaica in May 2019 after complications with the renewal of his US visa forced him to resolve the matter at home. The difficulties caused him to miss the rest of the 2019 season and a majority of the 2020 campaign. His contract was set to expire at the end of the month.

Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said that Burke has constantly proven his worth on the field and is delighted to have secured him for the next two years.

Cory has consistently shown his value on the pitch with his dedication, hard work and ability to finish," Tanner said on the club's website. "He has become a valuable striker who runs hard in the box and has the ability to make a play defensively to start the attack."

During his time away from the United States, he was sent on loan twice to reigning National Premier League champions Portmore United in August 2019 and then last February to Austrian club SKN St Polten. His visas issues were resolved in October which paved the way for his return to the team for the latter part of the season. He went on to make six appearances for the club scoring two goals including the goal that secured the team's first trophy in franchise history, the Supporter's Shield (regular-season championship) in their 2-1 win over the New England Revolution on November 8.

Meanwhile, his teammate and national captain Andre Blake will return to the team next season after his option was exercised by the club after a campaign which saw him claimed the 2020 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award and named a finalist for the MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.