Less than two weeks from the end of the summer transfer window on Sept. 2, the Crew are attempting to acquire attacking midfielder Santiago Rodriguez, a former MLS star, from Botofogo of Série A in Brazil.
The Dispatch has confirmed that the Crew have been seeking to acquire Rodriguez, as first reported by The Athletic, but nothing is finalized.
Rodriguez, 26, became a star midfielder for New York City FC from 2021-2024 before transferring to Botofogo in Feb. 2025. Playing the past two seasons in Brazil's top division, Rodriguez had two goals and five assists while starting 14 of 26 appearances last year, but hasn't recorded a goal or assist while starting seven of 14 games
this season.
In four MLS seasons with NYCFC, the Uruguayan star scored 24 goals with 21 assists in 116 games (100 starts). He also helped NYCFC win the 2021 MLS Cup and 2022 Campeones Cup.
Still in his prime, Rodriguez is being pursued to fill the Crew's vacant designated player spot opened by placing injured forward Wessam Abou Ali(ACL surgery) on the season-ending injury list. According to TransferMarkt, Rodriguez's transfer value as of May 26 was roughly $7 million ($6 million Euros).
A report from Brazil says the Crew and Botofogo are finalizing details of a transfer and that Rodriguez has already agreed to a long-term contract with Columbus. If so, the Crew would eventually need to open a DP spot upon Abou Ali's return.
Brais Mendez, a forward acquired July 2 from Real Sociedad of Spain's La Liga, and midfielder Daniel Gazdag occupy the Crew's other two DP spots.
The Crew have dropped their past two games – MLS matchups against Charlotte SC and CF Montreal – and now face a daunting challenge Aug. 22 at Nashville SC, which leads the league's Supporters Shield standings with an MLS high 46 points.
Nashville is expected to dip into its depth against a struggling Crew squad, but that doesn't lower the hurdle much.
Adding Rodriguez could boost a Crew attack that has struggled to produce goals with Abou Ali sidelined for the season and speedy forward Jamal Thiaré hampered by a lingering calf injury. Mendez has provided an instant boost with three goals and one assist in his first six games, including a goal in his Crew/MLS debut to secure a 2-2 draw at Inter Miami CF, but more firepower is needed.
Chasing Rodriguez is the latest development in what's been a hectic summer transfer window for the Crew.
Already, they've sent out star midfielder Max Arfsten (transfer), forward Marco Rossi (sold) and midfielder Hugo Picard (loaned) while adding defender Eric Bailly, forward Josef Martinez, forward Gonzalo Tapia, defender Andrés Herrera and rookie midfielder Tarun Karumanchi.
Bailly and Tapia have yet to make their Crew debuts, but each joined the team's practice Aug. 21 at OhioHealth Performance Center while Thiaré worked on his own.
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew trying to land former NYCFC star Santiago Rodriguez
