Aidan Morris signs first team contract with Crew

The Columbus Crew officially announced that Aidan Morris joined the team as a homegrown signing. Morris comes to the Black & Gold after a season with Indiana University.

The deal was initially reported by Ives Galarcep on January 3rd.

Morris joined the Crew Academy in 2017 before graduating from the program and moving to the collegiate level in the fall of 2019. Morris played for the Crew U16/17 and U18/19 teams and was part of the U-19 team that finished third in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Tournament, appearing 42 times and scoring eight goals in his academy career.

Morris made a big impact in a short time in Bloomington. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year as he made 22 appearances, scoring twice and contributing a team leading eight assists.

The team’s new homegrown player was called into the 24 man U.S. U-20 camp currently underway in Florida as the U.S. prepares for Olympic qualifiers in March.

The signing further improves the Crew’s depth in central midfield. The team added Darlington Nagbe via a trade with Atlanta United in November and retained Wil Trapp and Artur. Morris is similar to Nagbe in that he’s often played in the “number 8” midfield role behind the playmaker and supporting the defensive midfielder.

This is the second preseason with the first team for Morris as he was part of the 2019 preseason camp. He appeared as a substitute during the Black & Gold’s match against the Charleston Battery.

The Crew opens training camp with physicals on January 18th and 19th before heading to Chula Vista, California on the 20th.