The Columbus Crew’s offseason changes continued on Thursday when the Black & Gold announced the free agent signing of midfielder Perry Kitchen. Unlike the additions of forward Bradley Wright-Phillips just before Christmas or winger Kevin Molino just after the New Year, the signing of Kitchen didn’t garner the same kind of excitement among the supporters or receive the acclaim nationally as some of the Crew’s other recent moves. But perhaps it should.
First, it makes sense that Wright-Phillips and Molino received more attention. The former New York Red Bulls and LAFC striker has scored 17 or more goals in five of his seven full seasons in Major League Soccer and Molino is a threat to push for 10 goals and 10 assists in any year he remains healthy, something few players can boast.