Who will be returning to the Columbus Crew in 2024? Details on the club's roster decisions
When the Crew lifted the MLS Cup trophy, it marked more than just their third championship. It marked the beginning of the offseason.
There was barely any time for the reigning 2023 champions to celebrate their title win before having to announce roster decisions for the 2024 season. Before the Crew even took to the street for their victory parade and rally around Columbus on Tuesday, the club had revealed three re-signings.
Defenders Steven Moreira and Rudy Camacho and goalkeeper Evan Bush inked new deals and will remain with the club for at least another season. Both Camacho's and Moreira's contracts run through 2025, with Moreira's having a club option for 2026. Bush is signed through 2024.
"Steven, Rudy ... Evan, they're the backbone of this team," Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, said. "They deserve it, and we want to keep this group together."
Bezbathchenko's words were backed up by the full list of roster decisions, which was publicly released later in the day.
The Crew decided to keep all but one player who saw action during the postseason on their roster. The exception was Julian Gressel.
It has been obvious that Gressel's return to the team was questionable ever since he was replaced in the starting lineup halfway through the playoffs by a younger Mo Farsi. Gressel also had a contract that expired at the end of the 2023 season. Josh Williams, a defensive reserve and the longest tenured player with the club, also had his contract expire.
Taking these decisions into account, the Crew's current roster stands at 21 players.
Here is the full list of Crew roster decisions:
Players under contract through at least 2024
Malte Amundsen, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Yaw Yeboah, Cucho Hernadez, Christian Ramirez, Diego Rossi, Yevhen Cheberko, Keegan Hughes, Max Arfsten, and Jacen Russell-Rowe.
More: Darlington Nagbe 'thankful' for contract extension with Columbus Crew: 'For me, it's home'
Players who had their contract options exercised
Patrick Schulte, Mo Farsi, Alex Matan, Sean Zawadzki, Will Sands, Philip Quinton and Kevin Molino
Players who had their contract options declined
Brady Scott, Jimmy Medranda, Jake Morris and Isaiah Parente
Players whose contract/loans expired
Gressel and Williams both had contracts expire with no re-signing. Gustavo Vallecilla's loan from the Colorado Rapids will expire on Dec. 31.
Of the players who are not on the current roster or were with the club on loan, Gressel, Williams and Medranda are eligible for MLS free agency while Jake Morris, Scott and Parente are eligible for the MLS re-entry process.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew's roster decisions for the 2024 season
