TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
Columbus Crew SC on Tuesday announced they have signed Crew SC academy product and University of Virginia defender Aboubacar Keita to a Homegrown Player contract.
Keita joins midfielder Wil Trapp and defender Alex Crognale as the third Crew SC academy product on the club’s current roster and is team's 12th Homegrown signing all-time.
The 19-year-old Columbus, Ohio, native started every match for Virginia in his only collegiate season, making 17 appearances and scoring once while helping the Cavaliers to a 10-4-3 record and a run to the third round of the 2018 NCAA College Cup. He also earned a place on the ACC's All-Freshman team.
“We are excited to officially welcome Aboubacar to the first team, as he has long been a part of the Columbus Crew SC family,” team president Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. “It’s always a proud moment for the club when an academy player is able to make the transition onto the first team, and it reinforces our belief about the long-term importance of investing in and developing Academy talent. This is a special day for Aboubacar, the Keita family and for the Crew.”
Keita played for the Crew SC Academy from 2016-2018, making 43 appearances between the U-17/18 and U-18/19 squads. He has also featured as a youth international, most recently earning a call into the US U-20 training camp this month.
