Carlos Valdes signs deal to return to Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union have signed central defender Carlos Valdes to a multi-year deal. Valdes has been on loan for the past 19 months. The defender will be available to play on Saturday against the Impact.

The Philadelphia Union have signed central defender Carlos Valdes to a multi-year deal, the team announced Monday.

Valdes has spent almost 19 months away from the club, on loan withIndependiente Santa Fe in Colombia, and San Lorenzo in Argentina. The 29-year-old also helped Colombia advance to the quarterfinals in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the best finish in country history.

He will be available to play on Saturday, when the club hosts Montreal at PPL Park.

Valdes was loaned to Independiente in Jan. 2013 to help him earn a spot on the Colombian World Cup roster. He scored four goals in 32 games appearances during the 2013 season.

A year later, Valdes was loaned to San Lorenzo, but played in just seven matches before leaving for Brazil.

More: Transfer Tracker: The major moves across Europe

- Sarah Barshop