Sports
Lakewood Soccer Player To Join Columbus Crew
Darlington Nagbe will enjoy a homecoming of sorts when he joins the Ohio-based pro soccer team.
COLUMBUS, OH — In early 2019, midfielder Darlington Nagbe expressed an interest in returning home to the Buckeye State to play for the Columbus Crew. This week, Atlanta United appears to have met Nagbe's request, trading him to the Ohio team.
Nagbe appeared in 33 matches this year, recording two goals and four assists for Atlanta, according to Major League Soccer. The 29-year-old started his career in Portland before being traded to Atlanta United. He will start next season with the Columbus Crew.
According to the Athletic and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nagbe was traded to the Crew in return for cash considerations.
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Nagbe calls Lakewood, Ohio his hometown. He came to the U.S. when he was 11, from Liberia. He played high school soccer at St. Edward before heading to the University of Akron. He started play in Major League Soccer in 2011 and earned U.S. citizenship in 2015.
He began lobbying for a trade to Ohio in February. He missed the first two preseason games and prompted speculation he was angling for an early-season swap. The Crew hired Nagbe's former college coach, Caleb Porter, before the start of the season. Sadly, Columbus went 10-8-16 on the season. Perhaps the addition of Nagbe will aid the team's fortunes.
