The Columbus Crew have parted ways with their top scorer, sending All-Star forward Diego Rossi to Liga MX club CF Monterrey in a reported $8 million transfer deal.
Crew general manager Issa Tall acknowledged Rossi’s contributions to the team in an official statement: “Diego was an important part of the Crew’s success over the past three years. Our team and supporters will always appreciate his tireless work ethic and passion for our club.”
Rossi, 28, leaves Columbus having scored 37 goals and recorded 20 assists across parts of four seasons with the club from 2023 to 2026. This season alone, he notched six goals and two assists in 15 appearances. During his time with the Crew, he was a key contributor to the team’s 2023 MLS Cup title and 2024 Leagues Cup championship.
The Uruguayan native first made a name for himself in MLS with Los Angeles FC from 2018 through 2021, before a stint with Turkish club Fenerbahce from 2022 to 2023. In total across his time with LAFC and Columbus, Rossi accumulated 85 goals and 41 assists in 192 league appearances. He earned MLS All-Star honors four times, in 2019, 2021, 2024, and 2025.
The announcement arrived Friday, just one day after Columbus confirmed the signing of 29-year-old Spanish midfielder Brais Mendez from Real Sociedad of Spain’s La Liga. Mendez steps into the designated player role on the Columbus roster that Rossi previously occupied.
