Columbus Crew finally makes an addition to its roster | OneFootball

If patience is a virtue, Crew fans are some of the most virtuous in all of sports. We have waited and waited and…waited for the Crew to make some sort of addition to their roster. Well, just a week before the preseason begins, the wait is finally over.

The Crew has signed free agent midfielder Lassi Lappalainen. The 26-year-old native of Espoo, Finland has spent the last six seasons with Montreal. After playing nearly 3,000 minutes combined over two seasons, recovery from sports hernia surgery slowed the start of his 2024 season and he played in just eleven games (331 minutes). He became a free agent when the club decided not to pick up its option for the 2025 season.

Unlike a lot of players who join the Crew, Lappalainen is familiar with the team’s style of play. He spent two seasons playing for Wilfried Nancy when the Crew head coach held the same position with Montreal. Columbus GM Issa Tall said that familiarity with the style and his ability to play multiple positions is what makes Lappalainen a valuable addition to the club.

While being able to play in different spots will come in handy, the Crew definitely needs depth in midfield. After the departure of Aidan Morris, Sean Zawadzki got the bulk of playing time alongside Darlington Nagbe. But there wasn’t a lot for Nancy to choose from after Zawadzki. Derrick Jones played well at times. Alex Matan, a natural forward, played admirably while learning the position on the fly. It was fun watching young Taha Habroune, but he was in no way ready for a regular role. With Matan now gone, Lappalainen is a very welcome addition.

The Crew has signed Lappaleinen to a one-year deal with the club holding an option for 2026. They open the regular season on February 22nd against Chicago at Lower.com Field.