The Columbus Crew will part ways with defender Michael Parkhurst this winter, and their loss is another team’s gain.
The Crew have agreed to trade Parkhurst to Atlanta United, Goal.com reported on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Rhode Island native was set to be out of contract at the end of the 2016 season, and was to be eligible for the re-entry draft before the Crew worked out the trade.
Parkhurst has been a stalwart for the Crew over the past three seasons, starting all but two matches over that span and not missing a single game in 2016 while netting two assists.
Prior to his time at the Crew, Parkhurst began his career in MLS back in 2005, spending four seasons with the New England Revolution, winning a U.S. Open Cup, before leaving in 2008 to join Danish side FC Nordsjaelland. There he spent five seasons with the Superliga side while earning consistent playing time and winning the league once and the league cup twice. Parkhurst briefly made two appearances at FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga before returning to MLS with the Crew.
The stalwart defender has also represented his country from 2007-2014, making 25 appearances with the U.S. Men’s National Team, including the 2007 and 2013 Gold Cups and was included in Jurgen Klinsmann’s preliminary 30-man roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Certainly, solidifying the spine Jones and Villalba up top, Almiron and McCann in the midfield, and Parkhurst on the back line and perhaps Sean Johnson in goal.
Carleton is about to be the next Jordan Morris. Mark my words! lol
Youngsters don’t play in MLS, I think the plan is probably to let him understudy with Almiron for a couple years. Or just wait to sell him when he turns 18.
Two words: Jozy Altidore
Wow I thought Silver and I were the only Crew fans around here. Parkhurst certainly was prone to strange mistakes, I’ll give him some of that due to the constant rotating partners. I hope Sauro can withstand a whole season, seems he goes from one injury to the next.
A Crew fan here and I think Parkhurst’s game really slipped the past two years. He was frequently out of position and his passing and foot skills were often lacking. I can’t tell you how many times I saw him just boot the ball forward when he had open teammates he could have passed to. I realize that some of the issues were caused by Berhalter’s system, but still, I think he was overrated.
Good riddance! He served a purpose, but is overrated, slow, often out of position and at times looked like he didn’t care. He was not going to see the field with the talent at CB the Crew have.
I’ve always liked Parkhurst from his Revs days, moving to Atlanta should do him well.
He played decently for the Crew, but was asked to do a lot back there and with a rotating cast of CB partners. I’m not too surprised that GB was done with him, especially with Naess playing so well. Hopefully Sauro recovers fully from his injury!
donny Lamb: your club (assuming so) continues to do some solid things this off-season.
haha. Not my club — I just follow all soccer and especially root for the game to grow here in the States. Looks like they will be at least solid in year one. The thing is NYCFC and Orlando had good rosters 1-8, but had some serious holes after that. We’ll see if ATL can avoid that or if that is just inevitable for expansion teams. Parkhurst is a great signing though with his leadership and understanding of MLS. I don’t think any of their other signings have any familiarity with the league at all, including their coach!
especially root for the game to grow here in the States.
To be clear, I’m ardent supporter of the game here in the States, too. I think where our segments differ is how we go about that and perhaps what the end-game is.
Cheers Old School. I know we’re on the same team even if we disagree about some things.
Makes for some entertaining discussions, debates and arguments in the meantime. Cheers, indeed.
I like. A solid veteran CB that is not uncomfortable with ball at his feet. Will be a good locker room guy and fit Tata’s system well.