Friday, Feb 10, 2023,

COLUMBUS — Columbus Crew today announced that it has acquired up to $500,000 of General Allocation Money (GAM) from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for defender Jonathan Mensah. As part of the trade, the Crew will receive a guaranteed $100,000 in 2023 GAM, a guaranteed $100,000 in 2024 GAM, and up to a conditional $300,000 in GAM if certain performance metrics are reached. The 32-year-old, who was in the last year of his contract with the Black & Gold, departs after six seasons with the Club that saw him capture the 2020 MLS Cup and 2021 Campeones Cup trophies. 
 
“Above all, we want to thank Jonathan for his contributions to the Crew and the Columbus community on-and-off the field since joining the Club in 2017. He is truly the consummate professional, a great teammate and an even better person. Jonathan will always remain an important part of our Club’s history, including winning MLS Cup 2020 together, and we wish him and his wife Kafui all the best in the future,” said Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “This was certainly a difficult decision to make as we assessed our roster throughout the preseason heading into the 2023 campaign. This opportunity materialized and we felt would give us flexibility to promote players from within the Club and add new players from the outside, in the short term and long term.”

Since joining the Black & Gold prior to the start of the 2017 season, Mensah has made 159 regular-season appearances (155 starts) and scored seven goals and added three assists. The center back has additionally started all 12 postseason matches in which he has appeared.   

Appointed the team’s captain ahead of the 2020 season, Mensah led the team to the MLS Cup final where the Crew secured the MLS Cup with a 3-0 victory, the largest margin of victory in MLS Cup history. 

The following year, Mensah scored a 74th-minute header as the Crew captured the second trophy in consecutive years with a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the 2021 Campeones Cup.

For his performances, Mensah was selected as the team’s Defender of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2018-20). Active in giving back both to the Columbus community and in his native Ghana, Mensah was honored as the Crew’s OhioHealth Humanitarian of the Year in 2017.

The Crew are currently training in Fort Lauderdale through Feb. 18 as the Black & Gold march towards the start of the 2023 MLS season.

Partial plans and single-game tickets for Crew matches at Lower.com Field are on-sale for the general public and are available here.    
 
Soccer fans looking to experience Crew matches have a number of options as Season Ticket Membership for the 2023 season, which are currently on sale, includes benefits such as a subscription to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, exclusive, member-only events, a discount at the Crew Shop, monthly, interest free payment plans, the ability to purchase discounted parking, pre-sale access to all events at Lower.com Field, Historic Crew Stadium and FirstEnergy Stadium, and a dedicated account manager and service representative. Fans interested in purchasing Season Ticket Memberships are encouraged to call 614-447-2739, email seasontickets@columbuscrew.com, or visit www.columbuscrew.com/tickets/memberships to get connected with a Season Ticket Member representative.

TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew acquires up to $500,000 of General Allocation Money (GAM) from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for defender Jonathan Mensah announced on Feb. 10, 2023. As part of the trade, the Crew will receive a guaranteed $100,000 in 2023 GAM, a guaranteed $100,000 in 2024 GAM, and up to a conditional $300,000 in GAM if certain performance metrics are reached.

COURTESY COLUMBUS CREW COMMUNICATIONS