First-round pick Miguel Berry signs with the Crew

Three days before the start of the 2020 Major League Soccer season, Columbus Crew SC’s roster is finally complete.

The Crew announced on Thursday that the club has signed 2020 MLS SuperDraft selection Miguel Berry to a contract. Berry was the Black & Gold’s first-round pick, seventh overall, in the January draft out of the University of San Diego. Details of Berry’s first professional contract were not announced.

“We want to congratulate Miguel on officially joining Crew SC,” Crew President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement announcing the signing. “Miguel’s hard work in preseason camp did not go unnoticed and we are excited to have him join our Club. We look forward to working with Miguel as he continues his development as a player.”

In four seasons at San Diego, Berry made 72 appearances, 69 starts, scoring 38 goals and registering 16 assists. As a freshman, Berry made 18 appearances for the Toreros and had eight goals and one assist. He was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman team. During his sophomore year, Berry started all 17 games in which he played, managing five goals and five assists. For his efforts, he was named to the All-WCC first team and to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region second team. Berry played in 19 games as a junior, all starts, registering eight goals and two assists. Following the season, Berry was named to the All-WCC first team and received USC All-Far West Region second-team honors.

Berry’s final season with San Diego saw him appear and start 18 times, tying for second on the team with 17 goals scored while also providing eight assists. He was named WCC Co-Player of the Year and he was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann National Player of the Year award as well as being named to the USC All-America second team, the All-WCC first team, the USC Scholar All-American first team, the USC All-West Region first team, and the College Sports Information Directors of America All-American third team.

Berry spent the entirety of the 2020 preseason with the Black & Gold. The Crew elected to keep Berry over second-year forward, and last year’s first-round pick, JJ Williams, who was waived by the team last week. Berry will now compete with starter Gyasi Zardes, veteran Fandeno Adi and former Toronto FC Homegrown player Jordan Hamilton for playing time along the Columbus front line.

With the signing of Berry, the Crew’s 2020 roster now stands at 27 players heading into Saturday’s season-opening game against New York City FC at MAPFRE Stadium.

Goalkeepers (4): Jon Kempin, Matt Lampson, Eloy Room, Andrew Tarbell

Defenders (9): Harrison Afful, Chris Cadden, Waylon Francis, Aboubacar Keita, Jonathan Mensah, Axel Sjoberg, Milton Valenzuela, Josh Williams, Vito Wormgoor

Midfielders (10): Artur, Sebastian Berhalter, Luis Diaz, Derrick Etienne Jr., Hector Jimenez, Youness Mokhtar, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Pedro Santos, Lucas Zelarayan

Forwards (4): Fanendo Adi, Miguel Berry, Jordan Hamilton, Gyasi Zardes