The Diego Rossi era in Columbus has come to a close. The Columbus Crew is finalizing a deal to send the team’s leading scorer to Liga MX side CF Monterrey, a move that could net the club up to $8 million.

Rossi, 28, has been one of the most productive attackers in Crew history since joining the team during the 2023 season. The Uruguayan forward scored 51 goals across all competitions in Columbus, including the MLS Cup playoffs, Champions Cup and Leagues Cup play, seventh-most in club history, and he racked up 85 goals and 41 assists in 192 career MLS regular-season matches dating back to his time with LAFC.

“Diego was an important part of the Crew’s success over the past three years,” Crew general manager Issa TAll said in the press release announcing this move. “Our team and supporters will always appreciate his tireless work ethic and passion for our Club. This is the right opportunity and time for Diego and our Club. We wish him the best as he and his family embark on this new journey.”

This season, Rossi managed six goals and two assists in 15 MLS matches, leading the Black & Gold. That follows a 2025 campaign in which he topped the club with 16 goals. His departure leaves an obvious void in a Columbus attack that’s already dealing with the loss of Wessam Abou Ali, who was placed on the season-ending injury list this week after tearing his ACL on April 12.

Rossi’s time in Columbus included some of the club’s biggest moments. He helped the Crew capture the 2023 MLS Cup, a Leagues Cup title and an appearance in the Champions Cup Final, and he earned MLS All-Star honors in both 2024 and 2025 — a fourth All-Star nod overall dating back to his LAFC days.

Before joining Columbus from Turkish club Fenerbahce, Rossi spent five seasons with LAFC from 2018-22, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier finishers. He won the 2020 MLS Golden Boot after scoring 14 goals in just 19 matches during the COVID-19-shortened season.

The move comes at a pivotal moment for the Crew, who is attempting to turn the season around under interim head coach Laurent Courtois after parting ways with Henrik Rydström in May after just five and a half months. The Black & Gold enters the post-World Cup stretch of the season sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points below the playoff line, with four wins in 15 matches and 19 games remaining once MLS resumes play in July.

Rossi’s exit, combined with Abou Ali’s injury, opens up two Designated Player slots for the Crew to work with — and adds urgency to a roster that’s been thin offensively for much of the season. Columbus will also have to sort out the future of Daniel Gazdag, whose status remains uncertain as the club weighs how to reshape its attack.

For now, the Black & Gold will look to convert an $8 million transfer fee and a pair of open DP spots into immediate reinforcements as they try to salvage a playoff push down the stretch.