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Cucho Hernandez transferred from Columbus Crew to La Liga's Real Betis
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- Cucho Hernandez transferred from Columbus Crew to La Liga's Real Betis
The Crew have transferred star forward Cucho Hernandez to La Liga's Real Betis in Spain. The transfer fee for Hernandez was for approximately $16 million, according to a source.
Following the closure of La Liga's winter transfer window on Monday, the Crew officially announced the move.
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Last year, Hernandez was the runner-up in the MLS MVP vote behind Inter Miami's Lionel Messi. The 25-year old's two goals in the 2024 Leagues Cup final allowed the Crew to defeat Los Angeles FC for the title.
Another key goal for Hernandez with the Crew was his penalty kick in a 2023 MLS Cup victory over LAFC, earning the club its third MLS Cup title.
Hernandez joined the Crew in 2022 from England's Watford F.C. for a transfer fee of more than $10 million. He signed for more than $2.88 million, according to the MLS Player Association salary guide , with a contract that was to run through 2025.
Crew forward Cucho Hernandez holds the trophy following a win over LAFC in the MLS Cup final on Dec. 9, 2023.
Crew general manager Issa Tall spoke in November about the international attention Hernandez was receiving and what a future without Hernandez could look like for the club.
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"He's a great player who'd done tremendous for our team, but there's interest in Cucho . ... We should be flattered to have such interest for our players," Tall said. "Now, there was a Columbus Crew before myself, before Cucho, before Wilfred (Nancy) that was successful. We are currently successful with us here, and the Crew will be successful after we leave. No one is above the club."
More: Exclusive Q&A with Crew GM Issa Tall: A look at how the club is approaching the offseason
Hernandez recorded 44 regular-season goals and 27 assists in over two seasons with the Crew, leading the club in scoring in 2023 and 2024. His 10-plus goals and 10-plus assists in back-to-back seasons was the first time a player had achieve that feat in club history.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cucho Hernandez deal from Columbus Crew to Real Betis
