The Columbus Crew have acquired Designated Player and midfielder Dániel Gazdag in a cash-for-player trade from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for $4 million and up to $500,000 in conditional performance-based incentives. The Hungarian international is under contract for the 2025 season with a club option for 2026.  

“We are thrilled to add a high-impact player of Daniel’s pedigree to our team. He is an experienced player who has proven to be one of the top players in our league over the past few years,” said Crew General Manager Issa Tall.

Tall added, “His high soccer IQ, work ethic on and off the ball, and competitive spirit will be a great addition to our team. Daniel’s profile is one we were looking for to complement our current group, and we are excited to see him get started in the Black & Gold.”   

Gazdag scored a franchise-high 59 goals for the Union from 2021-2025 and ranks fourth on the club’s assist chart with 31 in regular season play. He has registered 14 game-winning goals and seven game-winning assists. In total, he owns nine multi-goal performances, including three hat tricks.  

Last season, Gazdag tied a team high with 17 goals and added three assists, his third consecutive season with more than 10 goals. Prior to joining the Union, Gazdag spent eight years playing for Budapest Honvéd FC in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, the top tier league in Hungary. 

Internationally, Gazdag has earned 29 caps for the Hungarian Men’s National Team, scoring four goals. In the recent March FIFA window, Gazdag appeared in both of Hungary’s UEFA Nations League Playoff matches against Türkiye.