Just when things seemed to have settled down in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Crew SC fans get hit with a blockbuster announcement. Crew SC have traded forward, Kei Kamara to the New England Revolution. In exchange, Crew SC acquire target allocation money, general allocation money, their highest first round draft pick in 2017 MLS Superdraft, highest second round draft pick in 2018 MLS Superdraft, and one of the Revs' international roster spots for the 2016 season. Crew SC will also retain a percentage of any future transfer fee, should Kamara be transferred outside of MLS. As of now, Kamara will occupy a designated player spot on the Revolution roster.
The announcement comes after Crew SC allegedly were in talks with the Vancouver Whitecaps in dealing Kamara for Octavio Rivero.
Kamara had since been suspended one match by Crew SC for his post-match comments after their recent 4-4 draw against theMontreal Impact. After the match, Kamara lashed out at teammate Federico Higuain for being “selfish” and not calling him a teammate. The comments were in reference for Higuain denying him a penalty kick in the 53rd minute of their game against the Impact when the Sierra Leone forward was sitting on a hattrick.
Since then, Kamara had been suspended, then rumors spread around Crew village, when Grant Wahl, senior writer for Sports Illustrated, tweeted that Crew SC were shopping the striker. Talks emerged early morning on Wednesday that Vancouver could be the likely environment that Kamara would end up, in exchange for Rivero.
Vancouver denied the reports, and head coach Carl Robinson was apparently taken away at the rumor, saying “That’s news to me.”
Blockbuster trade
The MLS Trade Deadline ended at 1am on Thursday morning, but talks behind closed doors were still going on. Many fans of Crew SC, after they thought the window had closed, were ecstatic to “hear” that the 6’3” striker was staying for the Black and Gold. Roughly about 10:30 Thursday morning, the announcement was made that Kei Kamara had been dealt to the New England Revolution.
Head coach and Sporting Director Gregg Berhalter issued a comment on the trade:
"Kei had a memorable 2015 season and we recognize and understand how popular and productive he was. So this decision was not one we made lightly. Our actions will always reflect the values of our club. We believe this transaction will improve our competitiveness this year, and in future years."
In his time with Crew SC, Kamara recorded 22 regular season goals and posted a number of 135 shots in 2015. He was named to the best XI at the end of the year for the first time in his career.
After originally being drafted by the Columbus Crew as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2006 MLS Superdraft, he went on to play for the San Jose Earthquakes (2008), Houston Dynamo (2008-09), and the Kansas City Wizards/Sporting Kansas City (2009-13). In addition, he played with England’s Norwich City (2013) and newly promoted Middlesbrough (2013-14) over his 11-year professional career.