TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Columbus Crew SC unveiled their replacement for Zack Steffen on Friday morning, announcing the signing of Curacao national team ‘keeper and former Netherlands youth international Eloy Room. He will officially be added to the Crew’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa upon the opening of the transfer window on July 9, and will occupy an international roster slot.
“We are excited to have a player as experienced and proven as Eloy join Columbus Crew SC,” said Crew president and GM Tim Bezbatchenko in a club release. “Eloy is a talented goalkeeper whose leadership and shot-stopping ability will help strengthen our club. We believe Eloy’s background competing at the European and international level will allow him to contribute to Crew SC immediately.”
Born and raised in the Netherlands but eligible to represent Curacao via his ancestry, Room, 30, joins Columbus following the conclusion of a stint with Dutch heavyweights PSV Eindhoven. He previously spent the lion’s share of his career at another Eredivisie club, Vitesse, having risen through their youth system. He helped Vitesse win the 2017 KNVB Cup and was also a member of the PSV squad that won the 2018 Eredivisie title, along the way making 160 career appearances in the Dutch top flight.
Room was one of the surprise stars of this year’s Gold Cup, making a tournament-high 26 saves in the group and quarterfinal stages to backstop Curacao’s underdog run to the knockout round where they were narrowly defeated by the United States in the quarters. He’s earned 30 caps with the island side, and led them to the 2017 Caribbean Cup championship, winning that event’s Golden Glove award. He previously spent time in the Netherlands’ youth national team system.
