COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club has acquired Cedrick Mabwati (SEHD-rick Ma-BWAH-ti), commonly known as Cedrick. An attacking threat, Cedrick has spent his entire professional career playing in Spain. Via a transfer, Crew SC has acquired Cedrick from Real Betis in Spain, and he will spend the remainder of his loan with Second Division side Osasuna this spring before joining the Black & Gold this summer following the conclusion of Osasuna’s campaign. Per club and MLS policy, additional details of the deal were not disclosed. Upon arrival, the 22-year-old with international experience with the Democratic Republic of the Congo National Team will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
Cedrick is currently participating in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with the DR Congo National Team, having made appearances in each of his nation’s Group Stage matches. He appeared as a substitute in DR Congo’s opening match against Zambia on January 18, registering an assist. Cedrick then started subsequent Group Stage matches against Cape Verde (January 22) and Tunisia (January 26), helping the Leopards to an unbeaten record (0-0-3) in the group and a second place finish. That effort qualified the side for the Knockout Stage, where it will face Congo in the Quarterfinals tomorrow, on January 31.
The midfielder is set to come to Crew SC with topflight experience in La Liga, having spent the 2013-14 season playing at Spain’s highest level with Real Betis. The Democratic Republic of the Congo native has also spent four seasons playing in Spain’s Segunda Division for two separate clubs, where he has registered 13 goals and 12 assists in total, including a nine-goal campaign in 2010-11 for CD Numancia.
“Cedrick is a young, versatile player with international experience who can make an impact at any of our four attacking positions,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “He is another player with considerable potential identified by our international scouting network and we look forward to him joining our team this summer.”
The 22-year-old began his career in the Atletico Madrid youth system, where he made 54 appearances over two seasons for Atletico Madrid B. He made his senior team debut in the Copa del Rey with a start against Recreativo Huelva before moving to Segunda Division side Numancia, where he made 40 appearances in his first season, scoring nine goals.
Cedrick played three seasons in total for Numancia before moving to the Primera Division and Real Betis, where he notched an assist against Spanish giants Real Madrid in his club debut. He also made 11 Europa League appearances for the club that season, including starts in the Knockout Stage against Rubin Kazan and Sevilla.
In late 2014, he transferred to his current club, Osasuna, where he has made 14 appearances in the current season, contributing three assists.
Prior to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Cedrick earned six additional caps (nine total) in qualification matches for DR Congo. He helped guide the Leopards to a 3-3-0 record in qualification, adding one assist over the span.
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Photo courtesy of Action Images/Columbus Crew SC.
