COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew have acquired midfielder Santiago Rodríguez as a Designated Player from Brazil’s Botafogo. The Uruguayan playmaker and U.S. Green Card holder will be added to the Crew roster upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. His contract with the Club runs through the 2029-30 season with a Club option for the 2030-31 campaign.
“We are thrilled to have Santi join our Club,” said Crew General Manager Issa Tall. “He has exceptional experience across multiple leagues, including MLS, and was part of championship teams. He has proven to be one of the best chance creators in our league through his technical quality and vision of the game. As he enters the prime of his career, Santi’s ability to influence the game and his proven leadership add another dynamic to our roster as we continue to contend for trophies in 2026 and beyond.”
The 26-year-old returns to MLS after spending the 2025-26 season with Brazilian top-flight side Botafogo, where he posted five goals and six assists in 58 appearances across all competitions, including Club World Cup, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana play.
Rodríguez initially joined New York City FC via loan in June 2021 before a permanent transfer in March 2023. Across four seasons with NYCFC, Rodríguez competed in 144 matches, registering 34 goals and 39 assists across all competitions. He tallied six game-winning goals and 14 game-winning assists in regular season action and started all 11 postseason matchesg played. Rodríguez, who was instrumental in NYCFC capturing their first MLS Cup in 2021 and the 2022 Campeones Cup, still stands second in club annals with 32 career regular season assists.
He began his professional career with Nacional of the Uruguayan Primera Division in 2019, helping Nacional earn back-to-back Primera Division titles before joining Montevideo City Torque in November 2020. Rodriguez played 61 matches in his home country, tallying 13 goals and 16 assists prior to coming to MLS.
A Uruguayan Youth International, Rodríguez represented his national team in multiple age groups, including helping the U-20s reach the Round of 16 in the 2019 U-20 World Cup.
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew acquire Santiago Rodríguez as a Designated Player on Sept. 2, 2026. Rodríguez’s contract runs through the 2029-30 season with a Club option for the 2030-31 campaign.
Name: Santiago Mariano Rodríguez Molina
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’6”
Born: Jan. 8, 2000, in Montevideo, Uruguay
Citizenship: Uruguay
Status: U.S. Green Card Holder
Acquired: Via transfer from Botafogo on Sept. 2, 2026
Previous Experience: Nacional (2019-21), Montevideo City Torque (2020-23), NYCFC (2021-25), Botafogo (2025-26)
