COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew and Eloy Room have mutually agreed to terminate the goalkeeper’s contract. The 2020 MLS Cup champion departs after five seasons with the Black & Gold.
“Since joining the Crew in the summer of 2019, Eloy has consistently been a great teammate and leader for our Club on the pitch and in the community. We appreciate his great contributions to the Black & Gold, including his key role in helping us lift the MLS Cup in 2020,” said President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “Through open, respectful conversations, the Club and Eloy collectively determined it was best to allow him to become a free agent and explore opportunities to play more significant minutes elsewhere. We wish him well as he moves to a new club, and he will always be able to call Columbus home.”
Room joined the Black & Gold in the summer of 2019 and has since started all 96 regular season matches in which he appeared, registering 25 shutouts during his time in Columbus. The 34-year-old earned the shutout as the Crew captured the 2020 MLS Cup with a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders. A finalist for the 2020 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Room was named the Crew’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
“I want to thank the City of Columbus for welcoming me as it did, the Columbus Crew for bringing me in, my teammates for the countless battles, and the staff for everything they do. Most importantly, I want to thank the best fans in MLS for the endless support,” said Room. “My time at the Crew was extremely special. We’ve shared some incredible moments that I will never forget like winning the MLS Cup, and I’m going to miss having the Nordecke behind me. Today, I leave as a player, but join as a fan. Columbus Crew will forever be a part of me.”
The Curaçaoan international recorded one shutout in three matches this season.
The Black & Gold begin Leagues Cup play against St. Louis CITY SC at Lower.com Field on Sunday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET [MLS Season Pass on Apple TV]. Tickets for the match are available at www.columbuscrew.com/tickets.
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew mutually agree to terminate goalkeeper Eloy Room’s contract on July 17, 2023.
