COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club has signed goalkeeper Eloy Room (pronounced AY-loy). The goalkeeper most recently played for PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands’ Eredivisie and has made 160 appearances (159 starts) in the Dutch First Division. At the international level, Room has earned 30 caps for the Curacao National Team and has won the 2017 Caribbean Cup. Room will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa upon the opening of the transfer window on July 9, 2019 and will occupy an international roster slot on Crew SC’s roster.
“We are excited to have a player as experienced and proven as Eloy join Columbus Crew SC,” said Crew SC President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “Eloy is a talented goalkeeper whose leadership and shot-stopping ability will help strengthen our Club. We believe Eloy’s background competing at the European and international level will allow him to contribute to Crew SC immediately.”
Room last played for PSV Eindhoven of the Dutch topflight from 2017-2019, where he helped PSV win the 2017-2018 Eredivisie as well as qualify to the UEFA Champions League. Before joining PSV Eindhoven, Room played for SBV Vitesse from 2008-2017, spending the 2013-2014 season on loan with the Go Ahead Eagles.
In all, Room has made 160 appearances (159 starts) in the Dutch First Division, 20 appearances (all starts) in the KNVB Cup and two appearances (both starts) in UEFA Europa League Qualifiers. Notably, Room was a pivotal part of the Vitesse side that won the KNVB Cup during the 2016-2017 season, playing every match of the tournament to help the club win the title for the first time in its 125-year history.
At the international level, Room has earned 30 caps with the Curacao National Team, posting nine shutouts. The goalkeeper made his debut with Curacao in 2015, starting and recording a shutout in a Concacaf World Cup Qualifier against Cuba on June 6. In 2017, Room helped Curacao to its first Caribbean Cup title, earning the Caribbean Cup Golden Glove award in the process. Most recently, Room started for Curacao in all four matches at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, making a total of 26 saves – the most by any goalkeeper in the tournament through the quarterfinals. At the youth level, Room has featured for the Netherlands Under-20 side.
Up next for the Black & Gold is a home contest against Seattle Sounders FC tomorrow, Saturday, July 6 for the lone regular-season meeting between the clubs in 2019 [7:30 p.m. ET / Fox Sports Ohio, FOX Sports GO (Stream) / 97.1 The Fan & 971TheFan.com (English); ColumbusCrewSC.com (Spanish)].
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew SC signs free agent goalkeeper Eloy Room (pronounced AY-loy) on July 5, 2019. He will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa upon the opening of the transfer window on July 9, 2019 and will occupy an international roster slot on Crew SC’s roster.
Name: Eloy Room (pronounced AY-loy)
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 179
Born: February 6, 1989 in Nijmegen, Netherlands
Hometown: Nijmegen, Netherlands
Citizenship: Curacao
Acquired: Signed by Crew SC on July 5, 2019
Previous Experience: PSV Eindhoven (2017-2019), SBV Vitesse (2008-2017), Go Ahead Eagles (2013-2014)
