Columbus Crew SC announced the signing of Argentine defender Hernan Grana on Friday, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
Officially tabbed as a Discovery Signing, Grana joins the Black-and-Gold after most recently playing with Argentine giants Boca Juniors on loan from All Boys. The 29-year-old fullback boasts seven seasons of experience in his home country's professional system, including stints with Belgrano, Quilmes (2011) and Lanus. He also helped Boca Juniors to a second-place finish in the 2013-14 Torneo Final.
Over his past seven seasons in the top flight, Grana has made a total of 164 appearances in Argentina's top division, contributing to clean sheets on 52 occasions over that span. He was sent off just once in nearly 13,000 minutes played.
"We're excited to have Hernan join the team," said Crew SC sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter in a statement. "He's a very experienced defender that is used to playing in high-pressure situations. We feel that his style of play and experience are not only going to be an asset on the field but are going to help our younger players as they continue to develop."
