The Columbus Crew is set to bid farewell to MLS legend Darlington Nagbe following the 2025 MLS season, as was reported by Tom Bogert on X Monday evening. Nagbe, 35, is a four-time MLS Cup winner with three teams (Portland 2015, Atlanta United 2018, Columbus 2020, 2023).

Collegiate Career

A native of Lakewood, Ohio, Nagbe attended the University of Akron, where he was coached by former Crew head coach Caleb Porter, capturing an NCAA title and the MAC Hermann Trophy, while tallying 19 goals and 19 assists in 73 matches for the Zips in three collegiate seasons. His honors include being named a Soccer America All-Freshman first-team honoree and the All-MAC Newcomer of the Year in 2008. A year later, Nagbe was named to the NSCAA All-America Second Team, Soccer America MVP Second Team, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season Second Team, All-Great Lakes Region First Team, and All-Mid-American-Conference First Team. In 2010, Nagbe guided Akron to its first-ever National Championship, defeating the Louisville Cardinals 1-0. The Liberia international was named to the NSCAA All-America First Team, the All-MAC First Team, the College Cup All-Tournament Team and awarded the Hermann Trophy, being designated as the 2010 College Soccer Player of the Year.

Nagbe decided to forgo his senior year of college, signing a Generation Adidas contract, which saw him drafted by the Portland Timbers in 2011 with the second overall pick of the first round, just behind Omar Salgado who went to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS Career

Portland Timbers (2011-2017)

He went on to make his MLS debut on April 2 in the 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution. In the same year, Nagbe scored his first professional goal against Sporting Kansas City, which was later named Goal of the Year, although the Timbers ultimately fell to SKC 2-1.

In 214 appearances for the Timbers, Nagbe tallied 27 goals. In 2015, Nagbe played a crucial part in the Timbers success when they defeated the Crew in the 2015 MLS Cup Final, assisting on the game-winning goal that saw the Timbers take a 2-0 lead over the Black & Gold in the first half.

Atlanta United (2017-2019)

Nagbe was on the move in 2018 to Atlanta United, where he was hit with an adductor injury that sidelined him for nearly three months after appearing in 17 matches for the Five Stripes. Once he was fully fit, the midfielder did not miss a game, including helping Atlanta capture the 2018 MLS Cup in a 2-0 win over his former team, Portland.

Nagbe’s success continued into 2019 with Atlanta United, capturing the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the Campeones Cup. After starting 44 games and appearing in 46 across all competitions, Nagbe rejected a multiyear contract extension, which saw his time with United come to an end.

Columbus Crew (2020-Present)

Darlington Nagbe joined forces with Porter in Columbus to usher in a new era with new ownership in 2020, now being part of the Club that was closer to family. Although the season was shortened due to COVID, Nagbe still found success as part of the Black & Gold, scoring his first goal for the Club in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire, which saw his strike from distance named the 2020 MLS Goal of the Year.

Nagbe would be instrumental to the success of the Crew throughout the 2020 season, which came to an abrupt halt after testing positive for COVID-19, seeing him miss the MLS Cup Final in which the Crew defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-0 to claim their second title in franchise history.

During his tenure with the Columbus Crew, Nagbe has appeared in 174 matches for the Crew, scoring nine goals while claiming the 2023 MLS Cup, leading the Crew to a 2-1 win over LAFC for its third title in Club history, becoming the third most decorated Club in MLS history.

Nagbe claimed the 2024 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which was awarded to MLS players who are dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion, enriching lives and improving communities across the United States and Canada.

Nagbe and the Columbus Crew currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference as they gear up for the MLS postseason. He leads the Crew against the New York Red Bulls for one final time at Lower.com Field on Saturday, October 18th, with kickoff scheduled for 6 PM.