The short but busy offseason continues for the Columbus Crew. The reigning MLS Cup champions announced the signing of goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen as a free agent on Thursday.

Hagen recently featured with Bnei Sakhanin FC from the Israeli Premier League and has signed for the 2024 season with option years through 2026. Hagen will be added to the roster pending receiving his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 visa but will not occupy an international spot on the Black & Gold’s roster, as he holds an American passport. (Editor’s not: The club originally said Hagen was an international but has since corrected that.)

“Nicholas has solid experience from his time abroad and with the Guatemalan national team that provides additional depth to our already strong group of goalkeepers,” Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in the press release announcing Hgaen’s signing. “We have a significantly higher number of games next year across multiple competitions, and it’s important that we continue to add depth and competition to our roster.”

At 27, Hagen began his soccer career as a member of the FC Dallas Academy before signing with Guatemalan side CSD Municipal’s Under-20 side. With the senior team, Hagen tallied 55 shutouts in 132 matches across all competitions from 2016 to 2020. He also helped his side win the 2017 Clausura and 2020 Apertua titles.

A native of Guatemala City, Guatemala, Hagen moved to the Azerbaijani Premier League, joining FK Sabail for the 2020 season. Hagen registered six shutouts in just 27 matches. During the 2021-2022 season, Hagen transferred to Hamarkameratene, a member of the Norwegian first division. While there, Hagen appeared in 41 matches, recording 14 shutouts before signing with Bnei Sakhnin FC and appearing in only four matches.

Hagen made his Guatemalan international debut on August 18, 2018, in a friendly match against Cuba. He then earned 34 caps for the Guatemalan national team, representing his home nation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Nations League and the 2021 World Cup Qualifying matches.

Starting goalkeeper Patrick Schulte returns for the Crew in 2024 after earning the job and helping the team win its third MLS Cup. However, Evan Bush remained the only goalkeeper on the first-team roster. Hagen now adds experienced depth to the team, which will have a busy slate in MLS play, as well as the CONCACAF Champions League, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup and possibly the U.S. Open Cup. The Black & Gold also recently drafted Luke Pruter out of UC Irvine, although he has not yet been signed.

2024 Columbus Crew roster:

Goalkeepers (3): Evan Bush, Nicholas Hagen, Patrick Schulte

Defenders (8): Malte Amundsen, Rudy Camacho, Yevhen Cheberko, Mohamed Farsi, Keegan Hughes, Steven Moreira, Philip Quinton, Will Sands 

Midfielders (6): Kevin Molino, Alex Matan, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Yaw Yeboah, Sean Zawadzki  

Forwards (5): Max Arfsten, Cucho Hernandez, Christian Ramirez, Diego Rossi, Jacen Russell-Rowe