Darlington Nagbe

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Lore & Background

Nagbe was born in Liberia and left the country as a five-month-old when his mother fled due to the First Liberian Civil War. The family eventually settled in Lakewood, Ohio. He played college soccer at the University of Akron, where he won an NCAA title and the Hermann Trophy. Professionally, Nagbe appeared in over 400 games, spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Portland Timbers, where he won MLS Cup in 2015. He was acquired by Atlanta United FC at the conclusion of the 2017 season, winning a second MLS Cup, a U.S. Open Cup, and the Campeones Cup. At the end of the 2019 season, he was traded to the Columbus Crew, where he won two more MLS Cup titles, a Leagues Cup, and an additional Campeones Cup. He made his international debut in November 2015 and earned 25 caps, winning the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In Their Own Story

Selected second overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Nagbe made an immediate impact despite missing time for hernia surgery. He scored his first MLS goal with a volley against Sporting Kansas City on July 2, 2011, a strike named the 2011 MLS Goal of the Year. Under coach Caleb Porter, whom he had known at Akron, Nagbe evolved from an attacking midfielder to a winger and central playmaker. In 2015, he was instrumental in Portland's first MLS Cup victory. After a near-miss transfer to Celtic in 2016, he remained with the Timbers until late 2017. On December 13, 2017, Atlanta United acquired him for $1.05 million in allocation money. There, he won a second MLS Cup in 2018 against his former club, plus the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup in 2019. Head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino praised his understanding of the game, noting Nagbe knew exactly when to speed play up or move laterally.

Reader's Guide

Nagbe's first MLS goal was scored on July 2, 2011, in a 2–1 loss to Sporting Kansas City, and that goal was named the 2011 MLS Goal of the Year. He was acquired by Atlanta United on December 13, 2017, for $1.05 million in allocation money, with a potential addition of another $600,000 dependent on performance bonuses. During his college years, he played four seasons with the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League, scoring seven goals in 18 league appearances.

Did You Know?

• Nagbe's first MLS goal came against the Chicago Fire on June 4, 2011.
• He won the Hermann Trophy in 2010 as the College Soccer Player of the Year.
• Nagbe won MLS Cup with three different clubs: Portland Timbers (2015), Atlanta United (2018), and Columbus Crew (two titles).