The Philadelphia Union announced their list of the eleven players they would protect during the 2017 Expansion Draft. Players signed via the Homegrown Player and Generation adidas mechanisms are automatically protected.
There weren’t many surprises on the list of players that would be protected from going to Los Angeles FC, although with Fabinho being out of contract and Fabian Herbers and Ilsinho having their contract options declined, they were most likely protected to meet MLS requirements as only three international players could be left unprotected. Per the press release, the Union are under no obligation to exercise the players option.