Columbus Crew Signs Crew Academy Product and Defender Keegan Hughes

January 11, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Columbus Crew SC News Release

COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew today announced that it has signed Crew Academy product and defender Keegan Hughes as a Homegrown Player through the 2024 season with Club options through 2026. Hailing from Heath, Ohio, the 2018 Crew Academy Player of the Year becomes the 20th Homegrown signing in Club history.

“We are thrilled to welcome another Crew Academy player to the First Team,” said Columbus Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “During his time at Stanford, Keegan proved himself to be one of the top defenders in the collegiate game, and we are excited for him to return home to central Ohio. This signing is a testament to the tireless efforts of Kelvin Jones and the Crew Academy staff. The Academy has continued to provide a pathway to the professional ranks as we cultivate and develop top youth talent in the state and region. We look forward to working with Keegan as he takes this important next step in his career.”

Hughes joins Aidan Morris, Isaiah Parente and Sean Zawadzki as the four Crew Academy products on the current roster.

Hughes returns to Ohio following a standout four-year collegiate career at Stanford University, where he started all 73 games in which he appeared, scoring eight goals and tallying seven assists.

A senior captain in 2022, Hughes and the Cardinal defense recorded nine shutouts during the regular season, the most in the Pac-12, as Stanford reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA College Cup tournament. A MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, Hughes finished his final collegiate season with a bevy of honors including First Team All-American, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team, CSC Academic All-District, All-Far West Region, First Team Scholar All-American and the National Scholar Player of the Year award.

The 22-year-old was additionally recognized as All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2021); All-Pac-12 Second Team, Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week (May) and Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2020-21); and College Soccer News All-Freshman First Team and Top Drawer Soccer Best XI Freshman Second Team (2019).

Hughes joined the Crew Academy in 2013 as a 13-year-old and played at every level of the player development pathway prior to matriculating at Stanford. A two-time Academy captain (2016-17, 2018-19), he was named Columbus Crew Academy Player of the Year in 2018 after scoring five goals in 26…