Philadelphia Union have signed forward C.J. Sapong to a three-year contract ahead of the 2016 MLS Regular Season, the club announced Wednesday.

“We value the energy C.J. brings every day and we’re very happy to have him committed to our club for the long term,” Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart said. “His athleticism and natural finishing abilities make him a true difference maker and we have the utmost confidence he will settle in as a leader for the team, ultimately becoming a building block for our club for years to come.”

Sapong, 27, joined the Union on Dec. 8, 2014 from Sporting Kansas City in a trade for the Union’s highest selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. During the 2015 season, Sapong appeared in 27 games and started 20. He was the Union’s highest goal scorer, finding the back of the net nine times, while adding four assists. He tied the franchise record for consecutive games with a goal, four, which led to being named a finalist for the MLS Player of the Month in June.

Sapong joined MLS in 2011 after Sporting Kansas City selected him with the No. 10 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. Two minutes into his first professional game, Sapong broke the league record for the fastest goal scored by a rookie. He was later named the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year with five goals and five assists in his first season. Overall, in his five seasons in MLS, Sapong has scored 29 goals and made 13 assists.

In 2016, the Philadelphia Union will open its seventh season in Major League Soccer at Talen Energy Stadium. The season opener will be at FC Dallas on March 6, with home opener coming two weeks later on March 20 against New England Revolution. For ticket information, visit philadelphiaunion.com/tickets or call 1-877-21-UNION.

PLAYER PROFILE

Position: Forward

Date of birth: Dec. 27, 1988 (age 27)

Place of birth: Manassas, Va.

Citizenship: USA

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185

Transaction: Signed a three-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 8, 2016.