Crew sign key player to contract extension

The Crew announced they have locked up one of their key players. Malte Amundsen has signed a contract extension that will keep him in Columbus through the 2027 season.

It wasn’t a deal that got a lot of attention around MLS, but the Crew’s acquisition of Amundsen from NYCFC in late April of last year has proven to be one of the best in all of MLS in 2023. Once inserted into the lineup, he helped stabilize a back line that was struggling. Head coach Wilfried Nancy’s move to combine Amundsen, Sean Zawadzki, and Steven Moreira is one that I feel saved the Crew’s season. Amundsen grew into his role as a left center back and became the type of solid defender needed to win a championship.

Amundsen played an integral part in what may be THE moment from the MLS Cup win over LAFC last December. With his team up 1-0 in the 37th minute, he sent a perfectly weighted pass of nearly 40 yards to Yaw Yeboah who calmly put it past the LAFC goalkeeper to give the Black & Gold what would prove to be the championship-winning goal. It capped off an 11-pass sequence that completely pulled LAFC’s defense out of position. If Amundsen’s pass is not the greatest in club history, it might be the most memorable.

Because of the Crew’s packed schedule this year, splitting time with Yehven Cheberko hasn’t necessarily meant diminished playing time for Amundsen. The depth the club has developed is going to go a long way in keeping key players like him fresh for another run to the MLS Cup title. If the Crew can defend their title, it will be Amundsen’s third championship-he won with NYCFC in 2021 as well.

A lot of decisions are still to be made as plenty of players will see their contracts expire at the end of the year. This includes Patrick Schulte and there are rumblings that the two sides are not yet close on a deal.