The Columbus Crew today announced that it has signed midfielder Ben Swanson as a Homegrown Player.
Swanson's career with the Black & Gold started at age 8 in the Crew Juniors program, continued through the Academy levels and he now joins the First Team as the youngest Crew Homegrown Player signed and the longest-tenured Crew Youth player in organization history. Per club and MLS policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Swanson will be available for selection when he is officially added to the roster on January 1, 2015.
Swanson formally signed his professional contract at a special Crew Youth event on Thursday, October 16 at Thompson Park in front of Crew Juniors' Under-9 Gold Boys East squad, the same age club with which Swanson began his Crew Youth career.
"Ben is another player from our youth system with substantial international experience with U.S. Soccer and has represented Columbus and our Academy globally," said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. "He's a player with a bright future, and at just 17 years old, we're looking forward to developing Ben further in our possession-based system. Ben is a product of a number of solid youth clubs and coaches over the years here in Columbus and this signing is another example of our region's strength in player development."
