The Columbus Crew has agreed to terms with United States U-20 National Team midfielder and Gahanna native Wil Trapp to make the 19-year-old the fourth Homegrown signing in franchise history, the club announced this morning. Trapp joins Matt Lampson, Ben Speas and Aaron Horton as the only players to make the transition from the Crew Soccer Academy to the First Team. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, details of the contract were not disclosed.
Trapp becomes a professional following two successful seasons at the University of Akron, where the Crew Soccer Academy product started in all 45 games from 2011-12. Primarily a defensive midfielder, Trapp scored one goal and contributed eight assists during his freshman and sophomore seasons on his way to earning back-to-back All-MAC First Team honors in 2011 and 2012 and being named Third Team NSCAA All-American in 2012. The midfielder has also appeared in five of the U.S. U-20 National Team’s nine matches this year.
“It’s definitely exciting to get to play close to home,” Trapp said. “It’s a dream come true to be able to play in front of the hometown fans, along with my family and friends. I’m very excited and I look forward to the things to come.”
A two-time Crew Soccer Academy Player of the Year (2009, 2010), Trapp earned the 2010 NSCAA National High School Player of the Year award prior to his time at Akron. During his time with the Crew Soccer Academy, Trapp captained the U-16 and U-18 squads while also helping Gahanna Lincoln High School to its first OHSAA Division I championship in 2009. More recently, the midfielder scored the game-winning goal in the 2012 U-19 NYSA National Championship match to help Crew Juniors secure their fourth championship in three years.
“We’ve had our eye on Wil for some time, and we’re very excited to have him join the First Team,” said Crew Technical Director Brian Bliss. “We always believed that he’d be signing for us at some point, and that day has arrived. Wil is a player that can get the job done, as he’s made big contributions to our Youth System and Akron’s program as well. He’s in the mix for the United States Under-20 World Cup squad, and we look forward to continuing his development right here in Columbus.”
Trapp will take part in the U.S. U-20 National Team training camp next week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. before joining the Crew for preseason training in mid-January.
Trapp figures to be a holding or defensive midfielder with Columbus. He turned down several offers from European clubs, including quite a lucrative contract from Randers FC in Denmark.
