By DAN KARELL

Columbus Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter hinted on Wednesday that a signing was imminent, and on Thursday, the club confirmed the news.

The Crew announced that they have signed Icelandic midfielder Kristinn Steindorsson on a free transfer. Steindorsson most recently finished a three-year stint with Halmstads BK in Sweden, leading them to the Allsvenskan in his first year with the club and scoring eight league goals in 29 games in 2014.

“We are very pleased to add a player of Kristinn’s attacking caliber to our group,” Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a statement. “We have tracked his progress in Sweden for a while and feel he will complement our current corps of wide attacking midfielders next season.”

The 24-year-old Steindorsson is listed as an attacking and wide midfielder, and will likely take the place of Bernardo Anor in the Crew roster, challenging wingers Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram for a place in the lineup. Steindorsson will officially join the Crew roster on Jan. 1, 2015, pending the receipt of his international transfer certificate and his P-1 visa.

In an interview with TheCrew.com, Steindorsson said that Berhalter’s coaching style and team philosophy was attractive in bringing him to the USA.

“That’s the type of play I like. I want to have the ball on the ground, I want to make one-twos, short passes and keep possession,” Steindorsson said. “I want to take the ball into the field and make passes and create goals from there, and of course try to score some goals. It’s a perfect fit for me.”

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What do you think of this signing? Do you see Steindorsson excelling in Columbus? Do you think he’ll challenge for a starting place?

Share your thoughts below.