Columbus Crew sign Tarun Karumanchi to first-team deal

Contract runs through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 311 min read

Making it official with the Massive 📝 The Columbus Crew signed Crew 2 midfielder Tarun Karumanchi to a First Team contr Via @ColumbusCrew on X

What happened: Karumanchi made his MLS debut July 23 after joining Crew 2 in March. Columbus selected the midfielder in the second round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.

Why it matters: The move converts a recent affiliate call-up into a longer-term roster piece for Columbus. The 2027 sprint campaign will determine qualification for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup.

By the numbers: The sprint season consists of 14 intra-conference matches from February through April, followed by the playoffs and MLS Cup in May.

What to watch: Karumanchi's matchday selections and midfield minutes will show whether he earns an immediate role in the 2026 rotation.

Sources

@ColumbusCrew 2026-07-30T21:58:25.683448+00:00

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Columbus Crew sign Tarun Karumanchi to first-team deal

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