The Columbus Crew<\/a> officially introduced Brais M\u00e9ndez<\/a> as the club’s newest Designated Player on Friday, welcoming an accomplished Spanish midfielder whose arrival<\/a> brings an impressive r\u00e9sum\u00e9 to MLS.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Best known for his four-year run at LaLiga side Real Sociedad, M\u00e9ndez established himself as one of the club’s key midfielders, helping La Real qualify for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League while earning four senior caps with Spain.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 29-year-old also enjoyed a productive spell with boyhood club Celta de Vigo, making 332 total LaLiga appearances before joining Columbus.<\/p>\n “It was going to be difficult just because of the level he plays at, the club he was playing for, his age, playing still at his prime,” general manager Issa Tall told reporters at Friday’s introductory press conference. “But we tried because for us we believe that Brais was going to elevate our club, make our team better, and we are very happy to have him here with us today.<\/p>\n “… I don’t think we’ve ever done this,” added Tall. “Having a player playing at such a top league and being a regular, it’s something we can be very proud about.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Brais M\u00e9ndez… 10\/10 \ud83d\ude0e pic.twitter.com\/QQBNGCzZzN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n M\u00e9ndez arrives at a pivotal moment for the Crew.<\/p>\n Over the past 18 months, Columbus have parted ways with two of MLS’s premier attacking talents in Cucho Hern\u00e1ndez and Diego Rossi. They first\u00a0sent Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> to Real Betis for a club-record fee before transferring Rossi<\/a> to LIGA MX’s CF Monterrey earlier this month.<\/p>\n Now, M\u00e9ndez is expected to spearhead the next iteration of the club’s attack.<\/p>\n “Issa explained the project of winning and playing good soccer,” M\u00e9ndez said through a translator. “He spoke very well about the city, and that’s what, as a player, that’s all we want \u2013 to win and compete, as well as to live in a beautiful, welcoming city.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n On the field, M\u00e9ndez said he prides himself on making an impact in the final third, whether by scoring goals or creating them for teammates.<\/p>\n “I describe myself as a competitive player,” he said. “I like to win. I enjoy having the ball and being close to the goal. I like to score as well as give assists, and I’ll show you that on the pitch.”<\/p>\n M\u00e9ndez also believes the experience he gained competing against some of the world’s best players in LaLiga, including Inter Miami CF<\/a> superstar Lionel Messi<\/a>, will serve him well in MLS.<\/p>\n “I’ve had the fortune of competing against great players in LaLiga,” M\u00e9ndez said. “Speaking of Messi, I competed against him in LaLiga, but that speaks to the good things of MLS, how it attracts good players, and we’ll continue to show that.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Columbus will hope that impact arrives sooner than later.<\/p>\n The Crew are just outside the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs picture, occupying the No. 11 spot in the Eastern Conference table (16 points; 4W-8L-4D record) and in search of a second-half surge.<\/p>\n Currently led by interim manager Laurent Courtois, Columbus will host Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati<\/a> without M\u00e9ndez on Saturday (7:15 pm ET | Apple TV<\/a>; FS1, FOX Deportes).<\/p>\n The playmaker expects to be fit in a “couple of weeks” after arriving from Spain’s offseason before looking to help Columbus climb back into the playoff picture.<\/p>\n “I hope [the fans] enjoy the way I play,” he said. “I’ll give everything I have for this club and hopefully we can celebrate a lot of victories together.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
New centerpiece<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
LaLiga pedigree<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Second-half spark?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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