On Friday, news broke that the Columbus Crew had agreed to trade captain and center back Jonathan Mensah to the San Jose Earthquakes for General Allocation Money over the next few years. It was a move that few, if any, saw coming and one that was hard for Black & Gold fans to swallow.
Mensah joined the Crew as a Designated Player in 2017 and made 159 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and helping lead Columbus to the team’s second-ever MLS Cup Final victory in 2020. He was a beloved figure on the field but was also a part of the community, making him a key figure in the club.