News Summary
The Columbus Crew has signed 17-year-old Tristan Brown as a Homegrown Player with a contract extending through the 2028 season. This significant milestone underlines the franchise’s commitment to youth development and showcases the talent Brown brings to the team. As the second-youngest player in the Crew’s history to sign a Homegrown contract, he could play a crucial role in the future success of the club.
Columbus, Ohio – In a significant move for the future of the franchise, the Columbus Crew has signed 17-year-old midfielder Tristan Brown as a Homegrown Player. The contract extends through the 2028 season, with options for additional years in 2029 and 2030. This signing marks a proud moment for the Crew organization and highlights the potential the young athlete brings to the field.
Brown becomes the second-youngest player to ink a Homegrown contract with the Columbus Crew, following in the footsteps of Ben Swanson, who signed in 2015. This signing marks the 24th Homegrown deal in the history of the club, reflecting the Crew’s continued commitment to developing talent through their Academy.
General Manager Issa Tall announced that the Crew believes in Brown’s potential and noted that the signing is a result of the hard work put in by both the player and the Academy staff. Tristan, in turn, expressed his gratitude for this opportunity, calling it a fulfillment of a lifelong dream as he embarks on his professional career.
Brown made his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut on March 22, entering as a substitute in the 73rd minute of a match that ended in a 0-0 draw against NYCFC. Since then, he has made a second appearance as an 80th-minute substitute during a 1-1 draw against CF Montreal on May 14. In addition to his time with the first team, Brown has demonstrated his skill at the youth level.
During the 2023 season, Brown started all seven matches for MLS NEXT Pro, contributing two assists—showcasing his ability to impact the game positively from midfield. He also participated in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, starting all three matches for Crew 2 and netting a goal in a 4-1 victory over the New York Renegades.
Brown’s journey in soccer began with the Crew Academy, where he joined in August 2022 at the Under-15 level, after previously playing for the Michigan Wolves. His commitment to the Crew led him to join Crew 2 on an amateur basis at the start of the 2024 season, before being signed to an MLS NEXT Pro contract in August 2024. During that season, he made notable contributions, playing 20 matches with 16 starts, which aided Crew 2 in reaching the Eastern Conference Final for the third consecutive year.
Notably, Brown was also selected to participate in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, hosted at Historic Crew Stadium, adding to his growing resume. He further showcased his potential by contributing to two Crew 2 matches in 2023, including making his first start in a 4-0 triumph over FC Cincinnati 2 on September 17. Moreover, he has gained recognition at the national level by participating in two U-17 USYNT camps during October 2023 and March 2024.
Born on October 17, 2007, in Novi, Michigan, Brown joins his fellow Crew Academy products—Taha Habroune, Stanislav Lapkes, Cole Mrowka, and Sean Zawadzki—on the current roster. As he continues to develop his skills, the Columbus Crew organization looks forward to the contributions Brown will make in the coming seasons, both as an individual player and as a part of the team’s broader strategy for future success.
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Additional Resources
- Columbus Crew Official News
- Wikipedia: Columbus Crew
- The Columbus Dispatch
- Google Search: Tristan Brown Columbus Crew
- MLS Soccer
- Google News: Tristan Brown
- AOL Sports
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Columbus Crew
- Columbus Crew 2 Official News
- FotMob Match Details
