COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew announced today that the club has acquired midfielder Eddie Gaven and the rights to former Crew defender and Pickerington native Chris Leitch from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for forward Edson Buddle. Leitch is not currently under contract.
The 19-year-old Gaven turned pro at the age of 16 and holds the New York team record for youngest player to play a game (16 years, 232 days) and youngest to score a goal (16 years, 253 days). In three years in New York, the Hamilton, N.J., native has played in 69 games (62 starts), and tallied 16 goals and 12 assists. In 2004, Gaven was selected a starter for the MLS All-Star game and was named to the MLS Best XI squad after tallying seven goals and seven assists.</p>
"I am very excited and happy to be joining Columbus," said Gaven. "I think it will be a very good situation for me and I am familiar with a lot of the players on The Crew from my time in New York and on the National Team. I am also looking forward to playing for (Crew head coach) Sigi (Schmid) again."</p>
Gaven has appeared three times for the full U.S. National Team, making his National Team debut on July 11, 2004. He has also played for the U.S. at the U-23, U-20, U-17, U-16 and U-14 levels, including spots on the U.S. rosters for the (U-20) FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005, coached by Schmid, and the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 2003.</p>
"It's with sadness that we are parting with Edson Buddle," said Schmid. "But it's with excitement that we are bringing aboard Eddie Gaven, one of the brightest young players in the league."</p>
Buddle, 24, appeared in 106 games for The Crew and notched 42 goals during his four seasons. Last season, Buddle netted nine goals and dished out two assists in 23 games played.</p>
"It is very difficult to trade a player of Edson Buddle's caliber and potential." Said Crew General Manager Mark McCullers. "But Eddie Gaven is an exceptional talent and just the type of player that fits the character of the team we are building." </p>
A veteran of four MLS seasons, Leitch originally joined New York on March 13, 2003 in a trade with Columbus. He appeared in 72 regular season games for New York and notched three assists from the back line. He also garnered the 2005 MetroStars Defender of the Year award. Leitch was waived by the NY on March 1, 2006, but when he was not selected in the waiver draft on March 3, his rights reverted back to the Red Bulls. </p>
Transaction: The Crew has acquired midfielder Eddie Gaven and the rights to defender Chris Leitch from New York in exchange for forward Edson Buddle.
