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Philadelphia Union signs Tranquillo Barnetta on free transfer

The Philadelphia Union have signed Swiss international and Bundesliga veteran Tranquillo Barnetta on a free transfer using targeted allocation money.

Barnetta has trained with the Union for the past week in a feeling out process, according to a report on MLSSoccer.com, and traveled with the team to their away loss at D.C. United over the weekend.

Barnetta, 30, played for Schalke in the Bundesliga last season, making 22 appearances and scoring three goals. Over his three years at Schalke, he made 60 appearances across all competitions.

The Swiss player spent the majority of his career with Bayer Leverkusen and had loan spells at both Hannover 96 and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ahead of the signing, Union coach Jim Curtin said his time training with the Union was very positive and that the three-time World Cup participant fit in and trained well with the squad.