Columbus Crew SC announced on Thursday that it had acquired center back Nicolai Naess (pronounced NESS). The Norwegian international last played for Stabaek in his native country’s first division. News of a potential move to Columbus for Naess was first reported Wednesday by Washington Post soccer reporter Steven Goff.
https://twitter.com/SoccerInsider/status/755741105216520192
NEWS: #CrewSC has signed Norwegian defender @nicolainaess.
—> https://t.co/oky3JjTbWN pic.twitter.com/0NV8zmCsMs
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 21, 2016
Columbus Crew SC Acquires Center Back Nicolai Naess
The Black and Gold used targeted allocation money to sign Naess. That makes him the second central defender on the roster to have been acquired using this mechanism MLS made available to clubs last year. Crew SC signed Argentinian center back Gaston Sauro with TAM in last year’s transfer window.
The 23-year-old Naess has five years of professional soccer experience. He began his career with Valerenga in 2012, making five appearances. He then moved to Stabaek the following season, appearing in 21 matches that included 12 starts. The club finished second in the Norwegian second division that year, achieving automatic promotion to the top flight as a result.
The signing of Naess makes him the second Norwegian player currently on the Crew SC roster. He joins Ola Kamara who was brought in by the club during the off-season. Kamara currently has nine goals in MLS regular season play.
Naess has indirect connections to American soccer. His manager for two seasons in Stabaek was none other than Bob Bradley. Bradley coached the United States men’s national team from 2006-11. And Naess remarked today that he discussed the move to MLS with his former coach.
“I talked with my old coach Bob Bradley who I had in Stabaek and he thought this would be a good challenge for me,” Naess told ColumbusCrewSC.com. “So I decided to go to Columbus and I’m really happy to be here.”
Crew SC’s next match takes place Saturday as they host Orlando City SC (7:30 PM ET, MLS Live, Time Warner Cable Sports Channel, The CW Columbus). It’s the first meeting between the two teams in 2016 and just fifth overall since Orlando joined MLS last year.
