Tasked with reconstructing his back line, Crew SC coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter found an important piece of the puzzle on Tuesday.
The club announced the acquisition of Jonathan Mensah, 26-year-old Ghanaian center back, as the team’s second designated player. Mensah, who most recently played for Anzhi Makhachkala of the Russian Premier League, was acquired for an undisclosed transfer fee.
The Crew’s other designated player is midfielder Federico Higuain.
“We wanted to put ourselves in a position to land a defender that we thought would be a very good performer not only now but in the future. Looking at Jonathan, he fit that profile,” Berhalter said. “Physically very dominant, a lot of experience internationally and, you know, very good character. We thought, this is a guy who is certainly going to help our back line.”
Berhalter said the Crew had been following Mensah's progress for the last couple of months, and that Berhalter had reviewed game film on Mensah from as early as 2010.
In addition to playing for Evian in France from 2011 to ’16 and on loan with Granada in Spain’s La Liga during the 2010-11 season, he has played 51 matches with Ghana’s national team, including appearances in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
Berhalter said Mensah is a good fit along the Crew’s back line because of his one-on-one defending skills, strength and ability to read forwards. He said Mensah’s international experience is rare for a player his age.
“If we were talking about a U.S. defender that starred in the last two World Cups and is 26 years old, just put that in perspective,” Berhalter said. “Ghana, you could argue, is a country that has done equal to or better than the U.S. in the last couple World Cups. It’s a good signing and we’re excited to see him on the field.”
After trading center back and captain Michael Parkhurst to Atlanta United and losing Gaston Sauro for the season as he recovers from knee injuries, the Crew began to rebuild its defense by signing Alex Crognale, a University of Maryland All-American center back from Gahanna, on Dec. 20.
On Dec. 23, the Crew added Finnish defender Jukka Raitala to compete at left back with Waylon Francis. Berhalter said the Crew is working on signing Josh Williams, a seven-year Major League Soccer veteran whom the team took in the re-entry draft on Dec. 22.
Returning on the back line will be starter Nicolai Naess returning and right back Harrison Afful — also on Ghana's 2014 World Cup roster.
“We’re comfortable with it. What I like about it is it’s young, it’s experienced and it’s high quality. I think we’re in a good spot right now,” Berhalter said. “We’re going to have flexibility, and that’s what I like. I think we’re excited about that.”
Tasked with reconstructing his back line, Crew SC coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter found an important piece of the puzzle on Tuesday.
The club announced the acquisition of Jonathan Mensah, 26-year-old Ghanaian center back, as the team’s second designated player. Mensah, who most recently played for Anzhi Makhachkala of the Russian Premier League, was acquired for an undisclosed transfer fee.
The Crew’s other designated player is midfielder Federico Higuain.
“We wanted to put ourselves in a position to land a defender that we thought would be a very good performer not only now but in the future. Looking at Jonathan, he fit that profile,” Berhalter said. “Physically very dominant, a lot of experience internationally and, you know, very good character. We thought, this is a guy who is certainly going to help our back line.”
Berhalter said the Crew had been following Mensah's progress for the last couple of months, and that Berhalter had reviewed game film on Mensah from as early as 2010.
In addition to playing for Evian in France from 2011 to ’16 and on loan with Granada in Spain’s La Liga during the 2010-11 season, he has played 51 matches with Ghana’s national team, including appearances in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
Berhalter said Mensah is a good fit along the Crew’s back line because of his one-on-one defending skills, strength and ability to read forwards. He said Mensah’s international experience is rare for a player his age.
“If we were talking about a U.S. defender that starred in the last two World Cups and is 26 years old, just put that in perspective,” Berhalter said. “Ghana, you could argue, is a country that has done equal to or better than the U.S. in the last couple World Cups. It’s a good signing and we’re excited to see him on the field.”
After trading center back and captain Michael Parkhurst to Atlanta United and losing Gaston Sauro for the season as he recovers from knee injuries, the Crew began to rebuild its defense by signing Alex Crognale, a University of Maryland All-American center back from Gahanna, on Dec. 20.
On Dec. 23, the Crew added Finnish defender Jukka Raitala to compete at left back with Waylon Francis. Berhalter said the Crew is working on signing Josh Williams, a seven-year Major League Soccer veteran whom the team took in the re-entry draft on Dec. 22.
Returning on the back line will be starter Nicolai Naess returning and right back Harrison Afful — also on Ghana's 2014 World Cup roster.
“We’re comfortable with it. What I like about it is it’s young, it’s experienced and it’s high quality. I think we’re in a good spot right now,” Berhalter said. “We’re going to have flexibility, and that’s what I like. I think we’re excited about that.”