“Beam me up Scotty,” the Columbus Crew announced the acquisition of French midfielder Hugo Picard on Monday afternoon. He joins the Black & Gold as part of Major League Soccer’s U22 initiative and will occupy an international roster slot. While Massive Report couldn’t locate an exact number at the time of this article, it’s believed the Crew currently has six of eight international spots occupied. Columbus added an additional roster spot via a trade with the Colorado Rapids back in February.

“We are excited to welcome Hugo to Columbus,” said Crew General Manager Issa Tall. “Hugo is a dynamic player who possesses a tremendous work ethic. His tactical acumen and ability in the final third will help continue to elevate the level of our team. We believe Hugo has the tools to thrive within our environment and will be able to contribute meaningfully to our Club’s success, both now and in the future. We look forward to integrating him into our system and supporting his continued development as a member of the Black & Gold.”

Picard comes to the Black & Gold after appearing in 32 matches during the 2024-25 Ligue 2 season. He scored three goals and added eight assists, including a three-assist showcase in a 4-1 win over Annecy on Jan. 10 while guiding his side to the Ligue 1 Promotion Playoffs. In total, he appeared in 92 League 2 matches and registered eight goals and 13 assists since joining Guingamp in 2022.