The Columbus Crew announced today that they have signed Spanish midfielder Brais Méndez to a Designated Player contract, a splash move that brings established La Liga experience to Columbus. The 27-year-old arrives from Real Sociedad and is expected to provide creativity and goals from midfield. Club sources project he could be available after the World Cup break when the team returns on July 22.
The Crew confirmed the signing and identified Méndez as a Designated Player, with the agreement reportedly running through the 2028-29 season and a club option for 2029-30, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The outlet reports Columbus reached a deal with La Liga side Real Sociedad and framed the acquisition as a major summer addition. Team officials said the transfer will be completed once medical checks and paperwork are finished.
Real Sociedad issued its own statement saying the move is subject to a medical and work-permit clearance, per AS. AS reports Méndez leaves San Sebastián with 166 official appearances and 33 goals, and that the club will receive approximately 66 million for the transfer. The Spanish club's release thanked the player for his contributions over four seasons.
What He Brings On The Field
Méndez is a left-footed attacking midfielder who broke through at Celta and moved to Real Sociedad in 2022. He has European competition experience, with seven Champions League appearances in which he scored three goals, according to his career record on Wikipedia. Coaches will look to his movement, passing range and shooting to add a different dimension to the Crew attack.
Timing And Roster Impact
The signing will occupy one of Columbus's Designated Player slots and follows forward Diego Rossi's departure to CF Monterrey, a move that opened roster space for international reinforcements, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Under league rules, the MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens July 13, which is when an international transfer certificate can be processed. The club says Méndez's arrival is still pending visa approval, per MLS. If the paperwork moves quickly, the Crew expect him to be available when training resumes after the World Cup pause.
On paper, this ranks among Columbus's most notable midseason additions in recent memory, and it raises immediate expectations for the second half of 2026. How quickly Méndez adapts to MLS travel and tempo will determine whether this move turns into a season-changing swing for the Crew.
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