Breaking: David Accam traded to Nashville SC

David Accam, we hardly knew you... or will know you. The Columbus Crew SC winger, who has only been a member of the Crew for a little over a week, has already been traded. The Black & Gold announced a deal for Accam with future Major League Soccer expansion side Nashville SC, with the winger moving to Nashville officially on Jan. 1, 2020. In return, Columbus will receive $350,000 in General Allocation Money and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.

According to the press release, this deal was originally made during the primary transfer window that closed on May 7. During that window, the Crew sent $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, $400,000 in General Allocation Money and an International Roster Spot for the 2019 MLS season to the Union in exchange for Accam. Massive Report has learned that this could have been part of a three-team deal but that was not completed.

“As part of the several transactions at the close of the primary transfer window, this transaction not only benefits us for the 2019 season in having David a part of our attack on our roster, but it also allows us the long-term roster flexibility by restoring significant allocation money for future use,” Crew President Tim Bezbatchenko said in the press release.

Nashville was awarded an MLS team in December of 2017 and will make its expansion debut to start the 2020 season. The club is currently playing in the USL Championship.

Accam first came to MLS ahead of the 2015 season when he signed a Designated Player contract with the Chicago Fire. In his first year in Chicago, Accam played in 24 games, starting 21, while scoring 10 goals and adding two assists. That season, the Fire finished bottom of the Eastern Conference with just eight wins and 30 points.

The Ghanian built on his debut season with another successful year in 2016. Accam finished the season with nine goals and five assists in 24 games, 21 starts. Once again, Chicago finished outside of the playoff picture, bottom of the East with just 31 points.

Accam’s best season in MLS came in 2017 when he scored 14 goals and added eight assists in 30 games, 24 starts. Accam’s production helped spark a resurgence for the Fire, finishing third in the East with a 16-11-7 record and 55 points, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Chicago lost to the New York Red Bulls 4-0 on aggregate in the Knockout Round.

Ahead of the 2018 season, Accam was traded to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for $900,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $300,000 in General Allocation Money. The winger struggled mightily in his first season with the Union, recording only one goal and no assists in 23 appearances, 13 starts.

To begin his second season in Philadelphia, Accam was a reserve for the first three games of the year, coming off the bench twice. In his first start of the season, against the Crew, Accam scored two goals and added an assist in a 3-0 home win. Accam started the next two games, registering another goal and an assist but has only one start since April 6.

Prior coming to MLS, Accam spent 2012 with Ostersund of Sweden’s Third Division before signing with Helsingborg of Sweden’s top flight. The midfielder played for Helsingborg from 2012-2014, making 81 appearances in competitions, while registering 38 goals and 11 assists. While with Heldingborg, Accam played a two-leg series in 2012 against Celtic of Scottish Premier League in UEFA Champions League Qualifying, with the Ghanaian featuring in each of the matches. Additionally, Accam made six appearances in the 2012-2013 UEFA Europa League campaign, registering one assist in a 2-2 home draw against FC Twente Enschede of the Netherlands in a Group Stage match.

At the international level, Accam has earned nine caps with the Ghana National Team, making his debut in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations during a Group Stage match against Senegal on Jan. 19. The midfielder scored his first goal with the Black Stars during a 7-1 home victory over Mauritania in an Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier on June 14, 2015.

Just three days after the trade was announced, Accam made his debut for the Crew, coming off the bench for 25 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles Football Club.

While Accam’s stay in black and gold won’t be long, the winger still could add a key offensive piece to Columbus’ attack during the 2019 season.