Crew add centre back Eric Bailly on free transfer from Real Oviedo

32-year-old has 12 seasons in La Liga, Premier League

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 171 min read

Adding to the Black & Gold backline ➕⚔️ The Columbus Crew have acquired defender Eric Bailly, who most recently pla Via @ColumbusCrew on X

What happened: The Columbus Crew have acquired defender Eric Bailly on a free transfer. Bailly, 32, most recently played for Real Oviedo in Spain and joins the Crew backline as the club's newest addition.

Why it matters: Bailly's La Liga and Premier League pedigree adds experienced depth to Columbus's defense as the club heads into the second half of the 2026 MLS regular season. The move follows the Crew's transfer of forward Diego Rossi to Liga MX's Monterrey earlier this month, part of a broader roster reshuffle.

By the numbers: Bailly has played for four clubs since leaving Manchester United in 2024, with 12 combined seasons of experience across La Liga and the Premier League.

What to watch: Columbus will look to work Bailly into the lineup as the 2026 regular season resumes.

Sources

@ColumbusCrew 2026-07-17T20:25:27.060208+00:00

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