Crew trade TAM, GAM, international slot to Union for David Accam

Columbus Crew SC isn’t done making moves in the initial transfer window of the 2019 season. Despite the window closing at 11:59 p.m CT on Tuesday, the Black & Gold announced a trade — which was filed before the deadline — with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday morning. The Crew sent $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, $400,000 in General Allocation Money and an International Roster Spot for the 2019 Major League Soccer season to the Union in exchange for midfielder David Accam.

“We want to welcome David Accam to Columbus Crew SC as David is a fast, dynamic player and a proven attacking threat in MLS,” Crew President Tim Bezbatchenko said in the press release. “In addition to having experience in the League, we believe David’s specific skillset will help us bolster the attack of our current roster and we look forward to his contributions to the Club this season.”

Accam first came to Major League Soccer 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 topflight. 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.

Accam brings pace and experience at all levels to the Crew. Head coach Caleb Porter has discussed wanting one winger who will tuck into the channels and help create while having the other run in behind. As the Black & Gold saw in a 3-0 defeat to the Union earlier this year, where the midfielder was involved in all three goals, Accam will provide that for his new club.