Why Dániel Gazdag to Columbus makes sense | OneFootball

It’s no secret that Columbus Crew GM Issa Tall has something cooking behind the scenes at all times. While most fans figured the summer window would be the big reveal, the Black & Gold decided to get ahead of the curve — again. Before 9am on Wednesday, MLS insider Tom Bogert dropped the kind of bombshell that flips group chats upside down: Dániel Gazdag is headed to Columbus. Perhaps a birthday present from the GM to Head Coach Wilfried Nancy, who turned 48 on Wednesday.

It’s the kind of move that catches both fanbases off guard — Union supporters waking up to their all-time top scorer heading out, and Crew fans asking, “Wait, are we replacing Cucho now?”

Let’s dive into who Gazdag is, what this means, and whether this is the move everyone’s been waiting for.

Who is Gazdag and where will he fit?

Dániel Gazdag is one of the most productive attacking midfielders this league has seen in recent years. Since joining the Philadelphia Union in 2021, he’s racked up 72 goals and 24 assists in 161 appearances — numbers that not only made him a club icon but also one of MLS’s elite No.10s. His goal tally stands as the highest in Union history, which says a lot considering Philly’s recent success.

But it’s not just domestic success. Gazdag has featured regularly for Hungary, earning 29 caps and even appearing at EURO 2024 last summer. He’s a proven international with a mature game and a reputation for showing up in big moments.

Germany v Hungary: Group A - UEFA EURO 2024 | Clive Mason/GettyImages

On the field, Gazdag is most comfortable pulling strings just behind the striker. He loves operating with a bit of freedom in the pockets, linking up and ghosting into the box as a shadow striker. That said, he’s flexible — capable of playing off the right or left of a central striker, and even leading the line in a pinch. His adaptability makes him an ideal fit for Wilfried Nancy’s ever-rotating, high-mobility frontline.

And perhaps more importantly: he fits the Crew system on both sides of the ball. Gazdag presses with intent — a non-negotiable under Nancy — and is still producing in 2025, with two goals and two assists before the move. He’s a workhorse with end product, which is exactly the profile Columbus values.

As for his debut, Gazdag arrives in Columbus in full match fitness, having started every match for the Union this season except one — when he was away on international duty with the Hungarian national team in late March. He’s sharp, in rhythm, and ready to contribute. With the Crew hitting the road to face St. Louis City this Sunday, there’s a chance he travels with the squad, but a starting role feels unlikely.

After just a few training sessions to get acclimated with Wilfried Nancy’s system and teammates, the most we might see is Gazdag traveling with the squad to Missouri to be on the bench — a tactical option if needed, but don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t travel. Realistically, all signs point to his full debut being reserved for a bigger occasion: the following Saturday’s “home” match against Inter Miami in Cleveland.

So where will he slot in?

It’s easy to picture Gazdag lining up alongside Diego Rossi behind a striker like Jacen Russell-Rowe. Whether he starts on the left or right doesn’t matter much — Nancy’s system is all about fluid movement and positional interchange. Rossi, Gazdag, and JRR will likely rotate all match, causing constant headaches for defenses.

Oh, and for the roster nerds like myself: Gazdag won’t take up an international slot after spending more than three years at Philadelphia to obtain a green card. Another tidy bit of business by the front office.

So—Is He the Cucho Replacement?

Here’s where the conversation gets more nuanced.

Yes, Gazdag takes the final Designated Player slot left vacant by Cucho Hernandez. But no, this isn’t a direct swap. Not even close honestly.

When Christian Ramirez and Cucho both left during the offseason, along with a few other depth attackers, the Crew’s forward line suddenly looked thinner than expected. Most assumed that a new striker would be priority number one, and another attacking mid if possible. But as preseason turned into Matchday 1, and then a Champions Cup early exit, nothing materialized beyond a few short-lived rumors. There were whispers of Flaco Lopez. Rumors of Brenner making an Ohio homecoming. But all of it fizzled out. The expectation was always that the Crew would wait until summer to bring in their Cucho successor, especially with the team sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference and already out of Champions Cup contention.

It became pretty clear the club was playing the long game — waiting for the right profile and the right window.

And then boom — in comes Gazdag, a DP-level attacker, but not the Cucho successor. Which makes some fans wonder: Did Columbus just use their final DP slot on another second striker when a pure No.9 is still needed?

It’s a fair question.

Cucho was unpredictable. A chaos merchant. He could drop into midfield and create, rip one from 30 yards, or make a near-post run that nobody tracked. Replacing that isn’t easy — nor quick. The front office likely knew it would take until summer to find that unicorn striker. Gazdag isn’t that player, but he’s also not trying to be.

His role is to elevate what already exists. The Crew have relied heavily on Rossi to shoulder both creation and finishing. Now Gazdag can help share that burden, and in doing so, might actually unlock someone like JRR, who thrives on service and space.

There’s also one other wrinkle: Back in 2023, the Crew attempted to buy down Darlington Nagbe’s DP status to make room for Diego Rossi in order to keep Lucas Zelarayán — but the league declined. This time around, with the league evolving its roster rules, there’s a very real chance they can buy down a current DP and open up another slot.

In other words, a proper striker signing in the summer is still very much in play. Gazdag’s arrival doesn’t close the door — it buys time and boosts quality.

Final thoughts

So is Gazdag the Cucho replacement? Not exactly. But is he a brilliant signing who fits the system, keeps the Crew elite in the attack, and potentially sets the table for an even bigger move this summer?

Absolutely.