German-born US soccer international Julian Gressel is moving from Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps to Columbus Crew within Major League Soccer (MLS).
Both clubs announced this. Accordingly, Vancouver will receive compensation of 550,000 US dollars, which could increase by 300,000 US dollars.
Gressel said in a statement that he would be drawn back to the east of the United States after the birth of his second daughter.
The 29-year-old midfielder played for Atlanta and DC United in the MLS for a long time before his year in Vancouver. Overall, Gressel has more than 200 games in North American professional soccer, his 65 assists are the third most of any MLS professional during that time.
Julian Gressel comes from Franconia and played for Greuther Fürth in his youth. He has been living in the USA for ten years and received US citizenship in November last year. At the end of January he made his debut for the US national team, for which he also recently played at the Gold Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the USA along with Canada and Mexico.