He has been training with the Columbus Crew since March and consistently since the summer, so it came as no great surprise when it was announced Wednesday that 17-year-old midfielder Ben Swanson will sign a Homegrown Player contract with the club on Thursday night and be added to the Columbus roster for the 2015 MLS season.
A high school junior, Swanson has played in multiple tournaments with the US Under-18 national team in 2014, including the Copa del Atlantico in Spain early in the year and the Lisbon International Tournament in June. Swanson also has experience in the US Under-17 residency program and played in MLS Reserve League matches for Columbus in 2013.
During the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy season, Swanson was named to the Central Conference's Best XI in the Under-16 age group, although he played most of the season at the Under-18 level.
