Leon Flach joins the Union from Germany’s St. Pauli as more than just a young midfield prospect

The Union’s signing of Leon Flach, which became official Wednesday, makes plenty of sense for the team. He’s a 20-year-old who was born in suburban Houston, grew up in Hamburg, Germany, and can play midfield or defense. So he checks a lot of boxes: youthful promise, a U.S. passport, German pedigree, and versatility on the field.

But it’s a little bit surprising that the move made sense for Flach, who came here from well-known German second-division club St. Pauli and has played for the U.S. U-20 national team.

It turns out that Flach has been interested in coming to Major League Soccer for a little while now. When the Union called, he was attracted to their playing style and their commitment to give young players playing time.

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“It was always an idea I had to come back one day,” said Flach, whose family moved out of Houston when he was 1½ years old. “I think it’s a really good fit, pressing high, putting the opponent under pressure. … The transition game, that’s what I want to play and what I like about football.”

He joined St. Pauli’s academy at age 15 and made his first-team debut there last fall. Along the way, he briefly played for Germany’s under-18 team, then decided last year to commit his national team future to the United States. And he is a fan of American football, for the record, having kept an allegiance to the Houston Texans.

While Flach was with the U.S. under-20s in January of last year, he learned a few things about MLS from his roommate, Colorado Rapids rising star midfielder Cole Bassett.

“He told me that it is a great opportunity for young players to develop, and to become a real soccer player, to develop yourself,” Flach said.

Flach’s passport ensured that he didn’t get caught up in the visa delays that hindered centerback Stuart Findlay’s arrival from Scotland. He found a few familiar faces when he arrived. Union academy-bred right back Nathan Harriel was also on that U.S. team, and two players on St. Joseph’s varsity men’s team are St. Pauli academy products: sophomore defender Alex Hartmann and freshman midfielder Nemo Philipp.

There are signs that Flach won’t just be a reserve for long-term development. Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said the team started talking to St. Pauli last year, and dropped a big hint that Flach could start the season at No. 2 on the defensive midfield depth chart behind José Andrés Martínez.

“We see Leon as a real good addition, who can cover a lot of spots, who is maybe not even a depth piece,” Tanner said.

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The Union beat D.C. United, 2-0, Wednesday afternoon at a rain-lashed Subaru Park. Anthony Fontana scored both goals, in the thirrd and 37th minutes, and they were nice finishes. José Andrés Martínez was among the starters, making a return from an ankle injury suffered in a March 20 scrimmage against the Chicago Fire.

Flach and Findlay made their debuts as substitutes in the 76th.

The team will fly to south Florida on Friday for a few days of training before heading to San José, Costa Rica for Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions League opener against Saprissa (6 p.m., FS1 and TUDN). Injuries remain a concern for the front line, as all four forwards have been sidelined in recent days: Kacper Przybylko with back spasms, Sergio Santos with a toe injury, Cory Burke with a groin injury, and Jack de Vries with a concussion.

Przybylko should be back on the field by Wednesday after getting an injection to ease the pain. Santos and Burke, who hasn’t even gotten on the field yet in preseason, are out for a few more weeks. Rookies Paxten Aaronson and Quinn Sullivan were the nominal starting forwards in Wednesday’s scrimmage.