COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew 2 has acquired forward Mataeo Bunbury [pronounced: muh-TAY-oh] on loan from Birmingham Legion FC of the USL Championship. The 17-year-old Canadian Youth International will join Crew 2 for the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, pending league and federation approval. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Mataeo is a talented, attack-minded player with great instincts around the penalty box and final third. We are very excited about what he brings to the squad and look forward to providing him with the opportunities he needs this season to continue his progress as a player,” said Crew 2 General Manager Corey Wray. “He has gained valuable experience in the USL Championship, MLS NEXT Pro, and as a youth international, and we are delighted to welcome him to Columbus.”
Bunbury signed with Birmingham on July 8, 2022. In his first season with the club, he appeared in 13 matches and scored one goal in USL Championship play.
The Minnesota native joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2020 and scored six goals for the Under-17 and Under-19 age groups before signing an MLS NEXT Pro amateur agreement with Sporting KC II on September 22, 2021. In the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season, Bunbury appeared in 10 games, starting six, and scored four goals, including a brace against St Louis CITY2 on May 8, 2022.
A dual national, Bunbury spent time with the U.S. U-14 Youth National Team and has earned one cap for the Canadian U-20 National Team.
Crew 2 returns to MLS NEXT Pro action against Chicago Fire II at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill., on Sunday, April 9 [7 p.m. ET / MLS NEXTPro.com] before returning to Historic Crew Stadium for the home opener against New England Revolution II on Sunday, April 16 [1 p.m. ET / MLS Season Pass on Apple TV].
Current 2023 Crew Season Ticket Members can add Crew 2 Season Ticket Memberships for $70, just $5 per match, via their account manager. Crew 2 Season Ticket Memberships for the general public are available for $112 here. Supporters also have the option to purchase Crew 2 season parking when purchasing Crew 2 Season Ticket Memberships. Single-match tickets for Crew 2 contests are on-sale here.
The full Crew 2 season schedule can be found here.
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew 2 acquires forward Mataeo Bunbury on season-long loan from Birmingham Legion FC of the USL Championship on April 7, 2023.
Name: Mataeo Chandler Razario Bunbury
Pronunciation: muh-TAY-oh
Position: Forward
Height: 5’11”
Date of Birth: June 13, 2005, in Northfield, MN
Hometown: Prior Lake, MN
Citizenship: Canada and United States
