The Columbus Crew have reached a contract agreement with Yevhen Cheberko, 25, a Ukrainian center back who has been playing with NK Osijek in the Croatian First Division. As first reported by The Dispatch, The Crew announced the agreement Friday afternoon.
Cheberko is from Melitopol, a city in southeastern Ukraine under Russian occupation. Since 2021, he has been playing for NK Osijek, which acquired him from LASK of the Austrian Bundesliga for a transfer fee of $808,650. Cheberko's transfer cost to the Crew, and the details of his new contract, have yet to be fully revealed. Suffice to say, it will not be as large as Lionel Messi's deal with Inter Miami.
Cheberko will not be able to suit up for the Black & Gold until July 5, when the next international transfer window officially opens. In the meantime, there is paperwork – transfer papers and a P-1 visa, which allows temporary entry into the U.S. for entertainers and athletes – to be completed. His contract will run through 2026.
"Yevhen is a talented player with a high ceiling who will help solidify the core of our backline and provide more tactical flexibility," Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. "Yevhen has a nice balance of defensive and offensive attributes in his game and will be a welcomed addition during the summer transfer window."
Cheberko is listed as 6 feet tall. He is a left-footed center back who has also played defensive midfield and left back, according to transfermrkt.com. His left-footedness (a need for the Crew) and positional flexibility will, presumably, make him a good fit in new coach Wilfried Nancy's three-back system.
Former team captain Jonathan Mensah , who was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in February, was not seen as a good fit. Even before Mensah was dealt, Bezbatchenko was conducting a worldwide search with the aim of bolstering the backline.
Bezbatchenko was close to signing a center back during the April transfer window, but an earthquake in Turkey scuttled the effort before the window closed. At the time, Bezbatchenko also had his sights set on Cheberko, who was the subject of months of bird-dogging by Bezbatchenko and his scouts.
"I'd like to recognize Issa Tall, Neil McGuinness and our entire leadership team who established strong processes to identify and recruit players like Yevhen who possess the characteristics we desire for our Club," Bezbatchenko said. "Their efforts were critical to acquiring Yevhen."
With Milos Degenek (Achilles'), Josh Williams (stress fracture in foot) and Gustavo Vallecilla (hamstring) dealing with long-term injuries, Nancy has of late gotten creative with his backline.
For the better part of two victories last week, Nancy's three-man backline consisted of no true center backs . The coach likes to challenge his players, and, to that end, he has used wing back Malte Amundsen , converted fullback Steven Moreira and even 23-year-old midfielder Shawn Zawadzki in the backfield.
On paper, then, Cheberko is an appropriate fit.
Wednesday, during an appearance on the Dispatch's "Soccer Speakeasy" podcast , Bezbatchenko said:
"That center back position is something that we've been looking at since the primary window closed (last summer). We think we are very close. I'm excited to augment along the backline position, whether we're playing three in the back or five in the back or maybe four – it gives Wilfried the tools to be flexible.
"We brought in Malte Amundsen, we brought in Gus Vallecilla, who have helped, and we've seen the progress of Philip Quinton . But we've also seen that some of these players aren't ready to play consistently across all styles of play, and against all teams in the league. That flexibility is paramount, and this new player that we're targeting, we feel like he can really help us along the backline – prevent goals, but also the way we build out."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Looking to bolster damaged defense, Columbus Crew turn to Europe
