April 17, 2021

Black & Gold sign 2019 MLS Cup winner who has made 94 regular-season appearances

COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that the Club has signed defender Saad Abdul-Salaam (pronounced: SOD ab-DUAL sa-LAHM) from Major League Soccer’s Waiver List. Abdul-Salaam, 29, is a seven-year Major League Soccer veteran who most recently played for FC Cincinnati and has made a total of 94 appearances in MLS regular-season action while registering one goal and 11 assists. A native of Gahanna, Ohio, the outside back is also a 2019 MLS Cup winner during his time with Seattle Sounders FC.

“We are pleased to welcome Saad back to his hometown club,” said Crew SC President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “Saad is a defender whose versatility as a player and proven experience in our League will make him a valuable member of our squad, especially as we deal with match congestion this season. We are excited to begin working with Saad and look forward to incorporating him into the team.”

Abdul-Salaam was drafted by Sporting Kansas City with the twelfth overall pick during the First Round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The defender spent three seasons with Sporting Kansas City, making 64 regular-season appearances from 2015-2017 while registering one goal and one assist. In addition to his time with Kansas City, Abdul-Salaam played for New York City FC (2018), Seattle Sounders FC (2019) and FC Cincinnati (2020). During his tenure with Sounders FC, the defender helped the Western Conference team win the 2019 MLS Cup.

Up next, the Black & Gold hosts the Philadelphia Union at Historic Crew Stadium for the Club’s Opening Match of the 2021 MLS season on Sunday, April 18 [FS1 (English), FOX Deportes (Spanish) / 97.1 The Fan (English), ColumbusCrewSC.com (Spanish)].

TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew SC signs defender Saad Abdul-Salaam from Major League Soccer’s Waiver List on April 17, 2021.

Name: Saad Abdul-Salaam (SOD ab-DUAL sa-LAHM
Position: Defender
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 185
Born: September 8, 1991 in Charlotte, NC
Hometown: Gahanna, OH
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Signed by Crew SC off of Major League Soccer’s Waiver List on April 17, 2021
Previous Experience: FC Cincinnati (2020), Seattle Sounders FC (2019), New York City FC (2018), Sporting Kansas City (2015-2017)

ABOUT COLUMBUS CREW SC
Columbus Crew SC (Soccer Club) is the first club in Major League Soccer. Crew SC is operated by The Edwards Family and Haslam Sports Group. The Black & Gold are the 2020 MLS Cup Champions. The Club won its first MLS Cup championship in 2008 and also won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. The 2020 campaign was the Crew’s 25^th season in MLS and the 21st season at Historic Crew Stadium — the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States. 

Website: ColumbusCrewSC.com | Twitter: @ColumbusCrewSC | Instagram: @ColumbusCrewSC | Hashtag: #Crew96 | Facebook.com/columbuscrewsc | Snapchat: ColumbusCrewSC | App: ColumbusCrewSC.com/app | Stadium: Historic Crew Stadium | Training Facility: Crew SC Training Center at Obetz | Future Training Facility (2021): OhioHealth Performance Center | New, downtown stadium coming July 2021

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