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MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew Signs Federico Higuain as Third Designated Player in Club History

July 27, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew announced today that it has acquired forward Federico Higuain from Club Atletico ColÃ"n of Argentina's Primera Division. Higuain becomes the third Designated Player in club history and will be available for selection upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and work visa. Per club and league rules no further terms of the deal were disclosed.

"On behalf of our club, we are extremely excited to bring another world class player to Crew fans and to the Columbus market," said Crew President and General Manager Mark McCullers. "Federico is a talented, technical and speedy attacking player who will add another dimension to our offense. I must commend our technical director Brian Bliss and Tim Bezbatchenko from the league staff for their expertise and diligence in seeing this complicated and lengthy negotiation to fruition."

Higuain comes from a family of renowned soccer players. His father Jorge played at several clubs in Argentina, including Boca Juniors and River Plate, while his younger brother Gonzalo is one of the top strikers at Real Madrid and Argentina's National Team.

The 27-year-old forward joins the Crew after spending the last two seasons with ColÃ"n where he tallied 10 goals in 62 appearances.

"We had our eye on Higuain for quite some time," said Crew head coach, Robert Warzycha. "He's a fast forward who played successfully in a very good league. He's very opportunistic and a good finisher, and he can play as a winger or as a second forward."

The 5-8, 165 pound native of Capital Federal, Argentina, began his career at famed club River Plate in 2003, at the age of 18, where he made only two appearances. In 2005, he was loaned to Nueva Chicago of the Primera "B" Nacional (Argentina's second division), where he helped the team reach promotion into the first division. Higuain spent two seasons there, notching 28 goals in 75 appearances, and returned to River Plate in 2007.

Higuain signed with Besiktas of Turkey in the middle of 2007, appearing in nine matches. He was subsequently loaned to Club America of the Mexican Primera where he tallied one goal in 13 appearances to finish out the '07-'08 season.

At the end of 2008 he returned to Argentina with Independiente where he appeared in 18 matches, recording one goal. Following the '08-'09 season, Higuain transferred to Godoy Cruz, also of the Argentinean Primera Division, where he played in 36 matches with 11 goals scored, until he moved to ColÃ"n in 2010.

Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members, it won its first MLS Cup championship in 2008 and has also won the 2002 U.S. Open Cup and MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. It is now in its 17th season overall and 14th at first-of-its-kind Crew Stadium.

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