COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — American defender Michael Parkhurst is following Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley back to Major League Soccer, leaving Augsburg of the Bundesliga to sign with the Columbus Crew.
Augsburg said Monday that Parkhurst’s contract, which ran until June 2015, was terminated by mutual consent. The Crew obtained the rights of MLS’s 2007 Defender of the Year from New England for Columbus’ first-round pick in Thursday’s draft and allocation money.
Parkhurst has made 23 appearances for the U.S. national team, including eight last year, and hopes to earn a spot on the World Cup roster. He made just two appearances for Augsburg, entering in the 42nd minute against Mainz last Feb. 10 and starting six days later against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 29-year-old old also has played for New England (2005-08) and Denmark’s Nordsjaelland (2008-13).
