Columbus Crew sign Kamara to Designated Player contract extension

The Columbus Crew have rewarded Kei Kamara, their MVP and top scorer from last year, with an improved Designated Player contract that ties him to the club through the 2018 MLS season.

(Courtesy: Columbus Crew)

"We are proud to be able to offer Kei a contract extension,” sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a statement. "To me, he is a true success story in this league: a player who has worked his way up the ranks and now has earned a Designated Player contract following one of the most prolific goalscoring seasons in MLS history last year.

"This is great news for Columbus and I am excited to see what Kei can do this year."

Columbus drafted the Sierra Leone native in 2006, and after spells with the San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, and Sporting Kansas City, he departed for England. Kamara struggled to find goals with Norwich City and Middlesbrough in the Premier League and Championship, respectively, and returned to Columbus last year through the allocation ranking system.

He immediately rediscovered his touch. Challenging Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco until the very last game of the MLS regular season, Kamara came a close second in the scoring race with 22 goals and eight assists.

Kamara is only the fourth-ever Designated Player in Crew history, joining Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Andres Mendoza, and teammate Federico Higuain on the short list.