The Columbus Crew has finalized a deal with English Championship side Watford that saw them land talented forward Cucho Hernandez. According to reports, Crew paid a club-record $10 million to complete the transfer.
Hernandez reportedly inked a deal that will keep him with Crew throughout the 2025 MLS season. The 23-year-old is expected to make his debut this weekend when Columbus heads to Rio Tinto Stadium to face Real Salt Lake.
Crew president Tim Bezbatchenko issued a statement to confirm the deal and called Hernandez a “world-class” player who is expected to continue developing.
“Cucho is a versatile attacker whose agility, mobility, and unpredictability make him a constant threat for opponents as he has demonstrated while playing against top-level opponents in some of the best leagues in Europe,” Bezbatchenko added.
Cucho Hernandez joined Watford in 2017 but spent most of his time with the club on loans. He mostly played in Spain, where he suited up for Huesca, Mallorca, and Getafe. Hernandez only made his debut in England during the 2021–22 season and ended up making 27 appearances and scoring six goals in all competitions.
Hernandez’s experience playing on the big stage should help Crew bounce back after a slow start to the 2022 campaign. They currently find themselves 11th in Eastern Conference and trail the last playoff spot by three points.
