Columbus Crew Sign Lassi Lappalainen from CF Montreal

The Crew sign a MLS veteran wing-back

The Columbus Crew have signed former CF Montreal wing-back Lassi Lappalainen to a deal through the 2025 season, with a club option for the 2026 season. Lappalainen appeared in 97 matches for CF Montreal dating back to the 2019 season.

The Finland international reunites with former CF Montreal assistant and head Coach Wilfried Nancy, who is now the head coach of the Columbus Crew. He recoreded his best season in MLS under Nancy in 2022, where he finished the season with 3 goals and 7 assists in 32 total starts.

Positionally, Lappalainen fits the mold of how Nancy wants his players, flexible. During his time in Montreal, Lappalainen played all over the field. He started his MLS career playing as a left winger and occasionally a striker. He then fell into a left wing-back role, as well as playing in central midfield. However, over the last few years Lappalainen has found his home at wing-back, playing on both the left and right sides.

Before coming to MLS, Lappalainen spent his professional career in his native country of Finland. He started his career at HJK Helskini, where he played for three seasons. During his time he also made appearances for HJK Helskini’s reserve team, Klubi 04. He would make the move to RoPs for the next two seasons where he recorded 15 goals. He would then return to HJK Helskini for one season before making the move to MLS.

During the 2024 season, Lappalainen has a guaranteed salary of $750,000. It still remains to be seen how much he will make in Columbus, as the salary numbers were not released. We will have to wait until the MLSPA puts out their salary guide, which usually is updated around the start of the MLS season.

It remains a question where Lappalainen will fit into this team, as the wing-back position already has some strong depth, but his versatility should help him see the field. It’s not the move Crew fans were expecting, but finally an addition they can talk about