Columbus Crew Sign Crew 2 and Crew Academy Product Taha Habroune
January 17, 2024 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Columbus Crew 2 News Release
COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew have signed Crew 2 midfielder and U.S. Youth International Taha Habroune as a Homegrown Player through the 2027 season with a Club option for 2028. The Crew Academy product becomes the 21st Homegrown Player signing in Club history.
"Taha is a talented young player who has continued to improve since joining our Club five years ago. Signing a First Team contract is a testament to his efforts and our Club's commitment to creating opportunities to advance along our player pathway," said Columbus Crew President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. "Taha is the first player to progress directly from the Academy to Crew 2 and now to the First Team, and we fully expect this trend to continue in the future based on the strong environment created by the leadership of Marc Nicholls, Corey Wray, Kelvin Jones, Dan Lock and our entire Crew 2 and Crew Academy coaches and staff."
Habroune signed an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract with Crew 2 on May 21, 2023. He appeared in 20 matches (14 starts) last season, tallying four goals and three assists, as the side reached its second consecutive MLS NEXT Pro Cup. Habroune made his First Team debut on May 24, 2023, entering in the second half of the Crew's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Habroune started the year as one of five Academy players to spend time training with the First Team during the 2023 preseason campaign.
The 17-year-old joined the Crew Academy in 2019. During the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, he was selected as the tournament MVP for the U-17 age group after helping the Crew reach the semifinals. Following his performance in the GA Cup, Habroune was selected to represent the Crew in the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game.
A U.S. Youth International, Habroune most recently represented the United States in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. He played in all three group stage matches (two starts) and helped propel the U.S. into to the knockout rounds. In the Round of 16 match against Germany, Habroune scored the opening goal for the U-17s in their 3-2 loss to the eventual champions. Habroune has 11 total caps for the U.S., netting four international goals.
During the U-17 Concacaf Championship in Feb. 2023, Habroune recorded goals in back-to-back group stage matches against Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, as well as scored against Guatemala in the quarterfinals.
Habroune joins Keegan Hughes, Aidan Morris and Sean Zawadzki as the four Crew Academy products on the current roster.
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew signs midfielder Taha Habroune as a Homegrown Player through the 2027 season with a Club option for 2028, announced on Jan. 17, 2024.
Name: Taha Habroune
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'8"
Born: Feb. 5, 2006
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown Player on Jan. 17, 2024
Previous Experience: Columbus Crew 2 (2023), Crew Academy (2019-23)
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