Columbus Crew sign 17-year-old midfielder Cole Mrowka as Homegrown Player

(Photo Courtesy of Columbus Crew)

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew have signed Crew 2 midfielder Cole Mrowka as a Homegrown Player through the 2026 season with Club options for 2027 and 2028. The Crew Academy product becomes the 22nd Homegrown Player signing in Club history.

“Cole is a talented player, and we are impressed by his drive to improve and develop since joining the Club,” said Columbus Crew President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “This signing is a credit to Cole’s hard work and the Crew Academy’s efforts to identify talent and develop individuals as they progress through the player pathway, from the Academy to Crew 2 and now the First Team. We look forward to continuing to work with Cole and help him reach his full potential.”

A member of the Crew Academy since July of 2022, Mrowka started all six of the Under-17’s games in the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, contributing a goal as the Crew reached the semifinals. While on an amateur agreement, Mrowka made his MLS NEXT Pro debut at 16-years-old against FC Cincinnati 2 on Aug. 14, 2022.

Mrowka signed an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract with Crew 2 on August 18, 2023. In the 2023 season, Mrowka appeared in 24 matches (15 starts) for Crew 2, scoring two goals and was tied for the team lead in assists (five). Twice named MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Matchday for his performances on Matchdays 6 and 14, Mrowka was selected to take part in the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Mrowka scored his first professional goal on April 30, 2023, sparking a 3-2 comeback victory over Inter Miami CF II. The 77th minute strike was voted MLS NEXT Pro Goal of Matchday 6.

In the 2023 UPSL National Fall Playoffs Round of 16 match against Chicago Nation FC on Nov. 18, Mrowka equalized in the 66th minute to send the match into overtime, where the Crew emerged victorious after a shootout. Mrowka scored the game-winner in the National Quarterfinals against Ole FC on Dec. 11, pushing the Crew into the National Finals held in Irvine, Calif.

Mrowka joins Taha Habroune, Keegan Hughes, Aidan Morris and Sean Zawadzki as the five Crew Academy products on the current roster.

TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew sign midfielder Cole Mrowka as a Homegrown Player through the 2026 season with Club options for 2027 and 2028, announced on March 5, 2024.

Cole Mrowka
Pronunciation: mah-RAH-kah
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: April 6, 2006
Hometown: Lincolnshire, IL
Citizenship: United States