Maurice Edu makes deal with Philadelphia Union permanent, done with Stoke

Maurice Edu is officially no longer a Stoke City player. While the United States midfielder spent last season with the Philadelphia Union, he did so only on loan from the Premier League club, but that is done. MLS has secured Edu's services on a permanent deal.

Edu's time at Stoke was a disaster. He played just once, coming off the bench for nine minutes in a one-and-a-half-year since there. That left him clamoring to get out, and he did with a loan to the Union.

With Philadelphia, Edu was tremendous. The team was a bit of a mess and couldn't figure out whether he or Amobi Okugo were midfielders or defenders, nor did they have much an idea about much else, but he played really well and put himself back in the national team picture.

Now that Edu is in Philadelphia for good, he can look to build upon the foundation he laid last year. The 28-year-old is no longer a youngster, but Jurgen Klinsmann showed with Kyle Beckerman that he has a place for an older midfielder in MLS if that player can fit a role. Edu isn't quite as good as Beckerman, but that doesn't mean he can't fit a role if he improves a bit and commits himself to whatever Klinsmann lays out for him. That's hardly a guarantee, but it is a possibility.