Gazdag excited to join a team that plays for ‘titles every year’

The Daniel Gazdag to Columbus Crew trade was made official on Friday afternoon and while the roll-out from the Philadelphia Union side included a video explanation from Sporting Director Ernst Tanner the more notable content came from the Hungary international’s introductory press conference with his new team.

The Union’s all-time leading goal-scorer was sold in a cash deal worth $4 million now with the possibility of another $500,000 in additional incentives. It’s good money for a player who was heading into an option year next year but a concerning move for a team to trade one of their best players to a rival seven games into the season.

During his introduction to his new team, Gazdag noted that he didn’t want to leave Philadelphia.

“It would’ve been nice to stay there for the rest of my career,” Gazdag said. “After I found out that it’s not possible and we got this offer from the Columbus Crew, actually I decided that I wanted to leave and join this club and play for winning.”

Since Gazdag came to MLS in 2021 to join the Philadelphia Union, the Crew have won three major trophies – Campeones Cup in 2021, MLS Cup in 2023 and Leagues Cup in 2024 – while the Union just have the 2022 Eastern Conference trophy to their name. The Crew won the MLS Cup in 2020 after the Supporters’ Shield-winning Union were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s a very successful franchise, especially since I’m in the league the last four years, they’ve won so many major titles,” Gazdag said. “So I think it makes me proud to join a club like like the Columbus Crew, and it makes me very happy that I’m playing for for a team and a club that actually is playing for titles, for winning titles every year.”

The “actually” part of that quote perhaps stings the most for the Union fanbase. Though it fits in with a pattern of the team selling off players and opening up playing time for younger prospects either from the international market or from within, the Gazdag deal is also further evidence of the team’s focus on “good business” and building for the future over any urgency around lifting the league’s ultimate prize. The Union are still a competitive team without Gazdag and have looked like a playoff team at the very least in their start under new head coach Bradley Carnell but there still appears to be an ambition imbalance between a team willing to spend $4 million cash to acquire a missing link to their attack and the one all too willing to sell that piece to a rival.

Tanner has done wonders with the limited budget given to him – Gazdag is one of those success stories, after all – and the assets acquired do give him more to spend than he would had they held onto their star midfielder longer but the Union will head into the busiest part of their season – 10 games between now and May 31 including one against the Crew – down a very important player who can’t easily be replaced. The depth that seemed improved with the Indiana Vassilev acquisition returns to a less proven status, for now at least.

“The financial flexibility it provides will allow us to further invest and strengthen our roster, while also providing opportunities for other players who we are confident can step in to the role,” Tanner said in the Union’s news release. “Additionally, this gives Daniel the opportunity to pursue what makes the most sense for him in the next chapter in his career. We know Daniel will continue to find great success, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

It’s not clear what role Gazdag will play in the first game with his new team in St. Louis but he’ll be back at Subaru Park on May 10 when the Crew visit the Union.