Tristan Brown is officially a Columbus Crew member. The 17-year-old midfielder inked a deal with the club through the 2028 season, with club options for the years 2029 and 2030, to become the second-youngest homegrown player in the club's history to join the first team.
Brown had already appeared with the first team on two occasions through short-term loan deals. But it was with Columbus Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro that he really shone. He played in 34 games, scoring 3 goals and providing two assists.
The Crew has a proud tradition for nurturing homegrown players. Tristan is the club's 24th homegrown signing to join the first team. Sean Zawadzki, Taha Habroune, Stanislav Lapkes, and Cole Mrowka, who are all current players, join the list. The club is not reluctant to emphasize the worth in this approach, both in building players as well as in truly giving them meaningful opportunities. Tristan Brown's signing is another evident demonstration of that commitment.
Affirmations confirm the significance placed on inner growth
General manager Issa Tall had this to say with regards to the meaning behind the signing. "The signing is a proud moment for the club as a whole. It is a reward for his dedication in his time with us in the academy, as well as for the efforts put in by our staff with regards to bringing players through in our pathway," he stated. His comment is a simple one and suggests that the club is interested in individuals coming through it.
Tall also credited that Brown's demeanor in the club played a role. “Tristan has capitalized on every opportunity to grow and develop. He’s a very skilled young player with a sound work ethic, and we're pleased to see him make a step in his professional career with the Crew.” In the club’s perspective, even being a young player, he clearly was aware of the development process and capitalized on every opportunity.
Brown also showed maturity in his own words. "Signing a homegrown contract with Columbus Crew is a dream come true and a tremendous honor. Wearing this badge and representing not just myself and my family, but this great club and the Columbus community, is everything I've worked for."
Executed well, a successful academy is a financial as well as sporting asset. The Crew is merely reaping what numerous others continue to miss: giving real chances to those who've been in the club from a young age.