Darlington Nagbe 'thankful' for contract extension with Columbus Crew: 'For me, it's home'
Darlington Nagbe has become a Crew mainstay.
After being acquired in November 2019 from Atlanta United, Nagbe helped the club to its second MLS Cup, later representing the Crew at the 2022 MLS All-Star Game and becoming the team’s captain.
And on Friday, the Crew made its intentions with Nagbe official. They want Nagbe around for the foreseeable future, signing the midfielder to a contract extension through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026.
“Being part of the club in the past couple years and the championship we won a couple years ago, and the direction that the club is heading in, I’m just thankful and grateful that they want me to be a part of it,” Nagbe said.
When he was first acquired by the Crew, Nagbe was a nine-year MLS veteran. He grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, and played for Lakewood High and St. Edward High before playing under former Crew coach Caleb Porter at Akron and winning an NCAA championship in 2010.
Over the course of 116 regular-season games with the Crew — he has nine goals and eight assists under Porter and Wilfried Nancy — Nagbe said he’s gradually and organically adopted a leadership role as “one of the guys that stays put and that’s been there,” trying to build a home for other players that join him on the club’s roster.
Aidan Morris said he has tried to learn as much as he could from Nagbe both on and off the field.
“He’s such a genuine person,” Morris said. “Shows up every day with a smile on his face and treats everyone with the same kind of respect. Makes everyone feel appreciated and loved and like they are listened to. He’s a perfect captain, man, and just a great human being.”
Morris said having a “stable person” like Nagbe is valuable and gives the Crew an example of “what the standard is here, and what we ask from players coming in here.”
But Nagbe knows where he is in his MLS career.
Nagbe is 33, finishing his 13th MLS season with a postseason run that will continue Nov. 25 in the Eastern Conference semifinal against Orlando City SC. His sole focus, he said, as he is “towards the end now” is to win another MLS Cup.
While Nagbe remains a part of the Crew’s immediate plans over the next two or three seasons, he can already realize that the path the club is on will continue even after his time in MLS is complete.
“As far as a team, you know, they’re going to be good with me,” Nagbe said. “They are going to be good without me as well. A lot of great young players here, a coach that is passionate, has his vision for the team and what the group wants to do and accomplish, along with (Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko) and Jimmy and Dee (Haslam). I’m here now, but even when I’m gone, I think the team’s going to be in great hands.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Darlington Nagbe is 'thankful' for Columbus Crew extension
