TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade
Hell may have frozen over, as FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew SC executed a trade, despite their heated rivalry.
FC Cincy sent midfielder Fatai Alashe to the Crew in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2021 SuperDraft. Should Alashe meet certain performance conditions, FC Cincinnati would instead receive $50,000 of General Allocation Money for the 2021 MLS season from the Crew.
“Fatai brings a half a dozen years of experience in MLS at just 26 and we believe he is a player who will help increase our depth in the center of the pitch and will add to the competition at the central midfield position," Crew SC president and GM Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement.
Along with Fanendo Adi, who was picked off waivers by the Crew, Alashe was one of FC Cincy's first MLS signings. He finished with just 14 appearances (4 starts) with the Orange and Blue.
“This move is being made with the intent to create better balance on our roster. Given the number of players we currently have at the central midfield position, we feel this is a move that is beneficial for both the club and Fatai,” FC Cincinnati GM Gerard Nijkamp said in a club statement.
Alashe figures to be a depth piece in Columbus, filling in behind Darlington Nagbe and Artur. Homegrowns Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris both saw minutes behind Nagbe and Artur at the MLS is Back Tournament in their first year as professionals.
