Vancouver Whitecaps are trading Julian Gressel to Columbus: report
It appears Julian Gressel has played his last game as a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The 29-year-old midfielder is being traded to the Columbus Crew, according to a report from Tom Bogert of The Athletic. The return has not yet been reported.
BREAKING: The Columbus Crew is finalizing a deal to acquire star wingback Julian Gressel from the Vancouver Whitecaps, sources tell The Athletic.
Gressel, 29, preferred to be back on East Coast. Vancouver worked to find solution.
Gressel has 4 USMNT caps https://t.co/Hpq6kwgCPB
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 20, 2023
The German-born American international was acquired by the Whitecaps last year and has proven to be one of the club’s most valuable players ever since. A pending free agent, the Whitecaps reportedly made a “strong offer” to keep Gressel, who ultimately wanted to play on the east coast, says Bogert.
Gressel wasn’t saying muchĀ when pressed about his future by Daily Hive’s Har Johal last week, saying: āYouāll know when thereās something to know. It’s as simple as that.”
Well, now we know.
Gressel was one of the Whitecaps’ highest-paid players, making $939,781. He scored three goals this season and was one of the team leaders in assists (5) during 18 regular-season appearances. Gressel also ranked third among Whitecaps players in scoring attempts (32).
Gressel appeared in four matches with the US men’s national soccer team in recent weeks at the Gold Cup.
The Whitecaps are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, with an 8-7-7 record after 22 MLS regular season matches. They’re currently in seventh place in the West, where the top nine teams qualify for the playoffs.
The Whitecaps begin Nations League play Friday at BC Place, as they host Mexican side Club Leon.
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