Jan. 22, 2019 will be a day Aboubacar Keita will remember for the rest of his life. That was the day the 18-year-old center back signed his first professional contract with his hometown Columbus Crew SC. After the Crew Academy came into operation in 2007, Keita is just the 12th player to sign a Homegrown contract with the first team and is enjoying his first weeks with soccer as a job.
“It’s been fun so far,” Keita told Massive Report. “Coming home, the guys have all been welcoming. We have a couple of the Academy guys (in preseason camp) which helps.