MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Acquire Former Best XI Defender Jonathan Mensah in Trade with Columbus Crew

Published on February 10, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired Ghana National Team defender Jonathan Mensah from the Columbus Crew in exchange for $100k of General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2023 and $100k of GAM in 2024. The Quakes will also pay Columbus $150k of GAM in 2024 if Mensah is on San Jose's roster after the 2024 Roster Compliance Date, and $150k of GAM in 2025 if Mensah is on San Jose's roster after the 2025 Roster Compliance Date. Mensah, who acquired a U.S. Green Card during his time with Columbus, will not occupy an international slot on the Quakes' roster.

"Nathan's unfortunate injury left a significant hole at a precarious time in our preseason that we didn't hesitate to address quickly," said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. "We knew we needed to bring in a player of significant quality and experience to compete at the highest level in MLS. We feel very fortunate and excited to bring in Jonathan, who has been named MLS Best XI, has captained an MLS Cup-winning side, and who knows what it takes to perform and be a leader for a competitive team in MLS. His leadership and success in Major League Soccer will be invaluable to our squad as we approach the 2023 regular season and his qualities as a human being will positively impact our organization and community."

Mensah, 32, spent the past six years competing with the Columbus Crew, leading the club to three playoff appearances, an MLS Cup championship in 2020, and the 2021 Campeones Cup title. Mensah made 159 regular season appearances for Columbus, tallying seven goals and three assists. He also made 16 appearances in other competitions, including MLS Cup Playoffs and Concacaf Champions League, recording two goals and one assist.

Mensah was named team captain ahead of the 2020 season. That year, he was one of two non-goalkeepers in MLS to play every minute of every regular season match and anchored the league's second-best defense which conceded fewer than a goal per game. Mensah led MLS in blocks (30), passes (1,473) and clearances (114) in the regular season and was a three-time Team of the Week selection. He finished third in voting for the MLS Defender of the Year award and was named an MLS Best XI selection. He then played every minute of all four postseason matches en route to the team's first MLS Cup championship since 2008.

In 2022, Mensah set career highs in appearances (30), starts (30), and minutes played (2,575) for a Columbus team that finished tied for the fourth-best defense in MLS. The Crew lost just eight of their 34 matches, second fewest in the league (PHI - 5).

Mensah has earned Columbus' Defender of the Year award three times (2018, 2019, 2020) and Humanitarian of the Year award once (2017). He was also recognized as the 2020 Sportsman of the Year by the Ghanaian-based Entertainment Achievement Awards (EAA).

MLS REGULAR SEASON STATS

Year Team GP GS Min Goals Assists

2017 CLB 26 25 2,169 2 1

2018 CLB 27 26 2,347 1 0

2019 CLB 24 23 2,151 0 0

2020* CLB 23 23 2,070 0 0

2021 CLB 29 28 2,537 2 1

2022 CLB 30 30 2,575 2 1

TOTAL 159 155 13,849 7 3

*Columbus only played 23 matches due to Covid-19

MLS POSTSEASON STATS

Year Team GP GS Min Goals Assists

2017 CLB 5 5 480 0 0

2018 CLB 3 3 300 0 0

2020 CLB 4 4 390 0 1

TOTAL 12 12 1,170 0 1

Prior to joining Columbus, the Accra, Ghana native played for five other teams across the world: AshantiGold (Ghana), Free State Stars (South Africa), Granada CF (Spain), Evian (France), and Anzhi Makhachkala (Russia).

Internationally, Mensah has scored one goal in 70 appearances for the Ghana National Team. He represented Ghana at both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, appearing in every group stage match across both competitions. He was also a part of the squad that reached the semifinals of five straight Africa Cup of Nations between 2010 and 2017. Prior to joining the senior national team, Mensah helped Ghana win the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt.

Jonathan Mensah

Pronunciation: MEN-sah

Position: Defender

Height: 6-2

Weight: 183 lbs.

Born: July 13, 1990 in Accra, Ghana

Preferred Foot: Right

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Previous Club: Columbus Crew (MLS)

College: N/A

Roster Designation: Domestic

Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) - Earthquakes acquire D Jonathan Mensah from the Columbus Crew in exchange for $100k of GAM in 2023 and $100k of GAM in 2024.

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