Columbus Crew introduce Brais Méndez to lift MLS standings
The Columbus Crew have officially introduced Spanish midfielder Brais Méndez as their newest Designated Player, a LaLiga-proven signing aimed at reversing a tough Eastern Conference run. With the club sitting just outside the playoff picture in the current MLS standings, Méndez is expected to spearhead Columbus’s second-half attack once he is match fit.
Key Takeaways
- Columbus unveiled Brais Méndez as a Designated Player after four seasons at Real Sociedad.
- The 29-year-old has four senior Spain caps and made 332 LaLiga appearances before the move.
- The Crew sit 11th in the Eastern Conference (16 points; 4W-8L-4D), just outside the playoffs.
- Méndez expects fitness in a “couple of weeks” and will miss Saturday’s rivalry match vs. FC Cincinnati.
- Reports put the transfer near €6 million after 33 goals and 24 assists in 166 Real Sociedad games.
Who is Brais Méndez and why did Columbus sign him?
On Friday, the Crew introduced Méndez as their newest Designated Player, welcoming a Spanish midfielder best known for his four-year run at Real Sociedad. There he helped La Real qualify for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League and earned four senior caps with Spain.
The 29-year-old also starred for boyhood club Celta de Vigo, totaling 332 LaLiga appearances before joining Columbus. Per OneFootball, the move closes four seasons at Zubieta and is valued at 6 million euros, with 33 goals and 24 assists from 166 Real Sociedad appearances.
General manager Issa Tall told reporters the club chased a player still in his prime. “We believe that Brais was going to elevate our club, make our team better,” Tall said, calling a regular from a top European league something Columbus can be “very proud about.”
How do the current MLS standings shape this signing?
The timing matters as much as the résumé. Over the past 18 months, Columbus parted with attacking stars Cucho Hernández (to Real Betis for a club-record fee) and Diego Rossi (to CF Monterrey). Méndez is now expected to lead the next version of the Crew attack.
According to MLSsoccer.com, Columbus occupy the No. 11 spot in the Eastern Conference table with 16 points (4W-8L-4D)—just outside the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs picture and hunting a second-half surge. That MLS standings gap is exactly what a high-caliber Designated Player is meant to close.
Fans following the wider league picture can also dig into related coverage across our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub for more BlasterPost explainers and buzz stories.
When will Méndez debut for the Crew?
Not this weekend. Under interim manager Laurent Courtois, Columbus host Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati on Saturday without Méndez (7:15 pm ET). The playmaker expects to be fit in a “couple of weeks” after arriving from Spain’s offseason.
He was unveiled at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, where fans quickly called for an immediate debut. Méndez, speaking through a translator, said Issa Tall sold him on winning and playing good soccer in a welcoming city—and vowed to score, create, and “give everything” for Black & Gold.
“I hope [the fans] enjoy the way I play,” he said. “I’ll give everything I have for this club and hopefully we can celebrate a lot of victories together.”