1. Overview
Darlington Joephillip Nagbe, born on July 19, 1990, is a highly regarded professional soccer player who currently serves as a midfielder and captain for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Nagbe later became a naturalized citizen of the United States and represented the United States national team. His career is marked by remarkable consistency, adaptability, and a commitment to fair play, earning him multiple championship titles across various clubs and individual accolades.
Nagbe began his professional journey with the Portland Timbers, where he won his first MLS Cup in 2015. He then moved to Atlanta United FC, securing another MLS Cup title in 2018, along with the Campeones Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. His impactful career continued with the Columbus Crew, where he has notably captained the team to two more MLS Cup victories, further cementing his legacy as a key figure in MLS history. On the international stage, Nagbe debuted for the United States in 2015 and played a crucial role in the team's victory at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. This article will delve into his journey from a war-torn Liberia to becoming one of the most decorated players in American soccer, highlighting his contributions and unwavering dedication to the sport.
2. Early life and background
Darlington Nagbe's early life was shaped by significant upheaval, beginning with his birth in Monrovia, Liberia. At just five months old, he and his brother, Joe Jr., were taken by their mother as they fled the escalating violence of the First Liberian Civil War in 1989. Their journey led them to reunite with Darlington's father, Joe Nagbe, a professional soccer player whose career took the family across various European countries, including France, Greece, and Switzerland. This transient period eventually concluded in 2001 when Darlington was 11 years old, as the family found a permanent home in the Cleveland area in the United States. His father, Joe Nagbe, was a prominent figure in Liberian football, having captained the Liberia national football team. Beyond his elder brother, Darlington also has two younger sisters, Martha and Seta.
2.1. Childhood and education
Growing up in Lakewood, Ohio, Nagbe attended Lakewood High School before transferring to St. Edward High School. During his senior year at St. Edward, he demonstrated his burgeoning talent by scoring 18 goals and providing 10 assists. His youth development was also fostered through his involvement with various elite programs; he was a member of the Region II ODP (Olympic Development Program) team, recognized as a 2007 adidas ESP All-Star, and played for the Ohio North ODP team. Additionally, Nagbe secured four Ohio North state club titles with the Cleveland Internationals and participated in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy as part of the Internationals.
2.2. Collegiate and amateur career
Nagbe continued his soccer journey at the collegiate level, playing for the University of Akron, where he scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists over 73 matches during three seasons. At Akron, he was teammates with future professional players such as Perry Kitchen and Darren Mattocks. His collegiate achievements were extensive; in 2008, as a freshman, he was named a Soccer America All-Freshman first-team honoree and the All-MAC Newcomer of the Year. In 2009, his sophomore year, he earned selections to the NSCAA All-America Second Team, Soccer America MVP Second Team, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season Second Team, All-Great Lakes Region First Team, and All-Mid-American Conference First Team.
The pinnacle of his college career came in 2010 when he helped the Akron Zips secure their first national championship, a 1-0 victory against Louisville. Following this triumph, Nagbe was named to the NSCAA All-America First Team, the All-MAC First Team, and the College Cup All-Tournament Team. He also received the prestigious Hermann Trophy as the 2010 College Soccer Player of the Year, distinguishing him as the top college soccer player in the nation.
Parallel to his collegiate career, Nagbe also played for four seasons with the Cleveland Internationals in the USL Premier Development League, where he scored seven goals in 18 league appearances.
3. Professional club career
Darlington Nagbe's professional club career has been defined by his consistent high-level performance and his crucial role in securing numerous titles across three different Major League Soccer clubs.
3.1. Portland Timbers (2011-2017)
Nagbe embarked on his professional career after being selected by the Portland Timbers as the second overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Despite missing the initial weeks of the season due to hernia surgery, he made his professional debut on April 2, 2011, in a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution. His first goal in Major League Soccer was a volley on July 2, 2011, in a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City, a strike that was later recognized as the 2011 MLS Goal of the Year.
In 2012, Nagbe scored the first brace of his career against Real Salt Lake on March 12. He concluded the 2012 season with six goals, primarily playing as an attacking midfielder. The 2013 season marked a reunion with his former Akron coach, Caleb Porter, who was officially hired by Portland on January 8. Nagbe finished the year with 11 goals across all competitions, mostly deployed on the left wing. Notable performances included scoring four goals against FC Dallas across four matches and netting a goal in Portland's first-ever postseason appearance, during the first leg of the quarter-finals against fierce rivals Seattle Sounders FC. Following the season, he received the MLS Fair Play Award for his exemplary conduct, committing only eight fouls and receiving just one yellow card in 2,848 minutes of regular-season play.
The 2014 season saw Nagbe primarily on the right wing, scoring two goals: a game-tying goal in the 93rd minute of a U.S. Open Cup match against Seattle Sounders FC, and another against FC Dallas on the final day of the season. He also set a career high with seven assists that year.
In 2015, Nagbe was a pivotal part of Portland's successful MLS Cup campaign. During this season, he transitioned from the wings to a more central role, starting all but one game. He also earned his second MLS Fair Play Award, committing only 11 fouls and receiving no bookings. Before the 2016 season, the Timbers re-signed Nagbe to a contract extension. On April 11, during a match against the LA Galaxy, Nagbe sustained an ankle sprain following a harsh tackle from Nigel de Jong, which required him to be stretchered off the field. He missed only two matches before returning to action, while De Jong received a three-match suspension. In July 2016, Nagbe was selected for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, marking his first appearance in the squad.
Following the 2016 season, Nagbe was the subject of a potential transfer to Scottish side Celtic for 3.00 M GBP, but the deal ultimately fell through, keeping him with Portland for the 2017 season. At the conclusion of the 2017 season, with head coach Caleb Porter stepping down and Nagbe having requested a new contract, the Timbers engaged in trade discussions. On December 13, 2017, Atlanta United FC successfully acquired Nagbe in a significant trade valued at 1.05 M USD in allocation money, with an additional 600.00 K USD contingent on performance bonuses, a record-breaking move at the time. He joined an Atlanta attack that had been the second-highest scoring in 2017 under coach Tata Martino.
3.2. Atlanta United FC (2018-2019)
In his debut season with Atlanta United in 2018, Nagbe made 17 consecutive starting appearances before suffering an adductor strain on June 24 against his former club, the Portland Timbers. This injury sidelined him for nearly three months, causing him to miss the 2018 MLS All-Star Game, for which he had been selected. After returning to play on September 15 against the Colorado Rapids, Nagbe was carefully managed to avoid overstraining. Upon regaining full fitness, he played in all five remaining regular season games and started all five playoff matches, significantly contributing to Atlanta United's first MLS Cup title, a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers.
The beginning of the 2019 preseason saw Nagbe inform new head coach Frank de Boer about personal issues, indicating he would arrive late and leave early from training. Reports also surfaced that Nagbe was interested in a move to an Ohio-based club to be closer to his family, with sources suggesting he was disappointed after the club "dragged their feet" on contract negotiations following the 2018 season, despite a prior agreement for a multi-year deal upon his trade from Portland. Despite these challenges, Nagbe remained a crucial player as the team won the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and the 2019 Campeones Cup. He started in 44 matches and appeared in 46 across all competitions, only missing a mid-week match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Atlanta United offered him a multi-year extension during the season, but Nagbe declined. At the end of the 2019 season, he was traded to the Columbus Crew.
3.3. Columbus Crew (2020-present)
On November 13, 2019, the Columbus Crew acquired Nagbe in exchange for 1.05 M USD in allocation money and an international roster spot, marking his reunion with his former Akron and Portland coach, Caleb Porter.
During the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, Nagbe played in 15 of 23 possible regular season games, missing eight due to an injury sustained in a match against the Philadelphia Union. On August 20, he scored his first goal for Columbus in a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Fire, a goal that would be named the 2020 MLS Goal of the Year, marking Nagbe's second time receiving the award. Despite leading the Crew through the regular season and playoffs, he was unable to play in the MLS Cup Final after testing positive for COVID-19. Nevertheless, Columbus won the game, securing Nagbe his third MLS Cup title.
In 2021, Nagbe started in Columbus's opening match of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, but an injury in that game forced him to miss the subsequent two matches, including the second leg of the Champions League fixture and the MLS season opener. Upon his return, Nagbe played every remaining game of the season, including the 2-0 victory against Cruz Azul in the 2021 Campeones Cup, which the Crew won.
The 2022 season saw Nagbe start every single league match for Columbus, scoring three goals-his highest seasonal tally since 2017. These goals included a 95th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 away draw against the New York Red Bulls on March 20, the third goal in a 3-0 home win against D.C. United on April 30, and the game-winner in the Crew's 2-1 away victory over Toronto FC on June 29. His consistent performance earned him another selection to the 2022 MLS All-Star Game, where he played the first half of a 2-1 win against the Liga MX All-Stars.
The 2023 season brought a significant leadership role for Nagbe as he assumed the club captaincy following the departure of Jonathan Mensah. As captain, Nagbe played in all 34 regular season matches and led Columbus to win the MLS Cup by defeating LAFC 2-1. This marked Nagbe's fourth MLS Cup, making him only the tenth player in MLS history to achieve this milestone. At the end of the 2023 regular season, Nagbe signed a contract extension with Columbus through the 2025 campaign, with an option for an additional year, demonstrating his long-term commitment to the club.
In the 2024 season, Nagbe made 29 appearances in league play, along with 2 playoff appearances and 13 appearances in other competitions. The Columbus Crew secured the 2024 Leagues Cup and were runners-up in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. As of the 2025 season, he has made 1 appearance.
4. International career
Darlington Nagbe's international career with the United States national team began after he officially obtained American citizenship in September 2015. Shortly thereafter, on November 6, 2015, he was called up to the U.S. National Team roster for two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Nagbe made his international debut on November 13, 2015, entering the match as a substitute in the 64th minute.
He scored his first goal for the U.S. National Team on May 25, 2016, in the 90th minute, securing a 1-0 victory in a friendly match against Ecuador. Nagbe was a key addition to the squad for the knockout stage of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the United States ultimately won. He started all three games in the knockout stage and was recognized for his outstanding performance by being named to the tournament's Best XI.
Nagbe also played a significant role in the United States' unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, starting seven of the ten matches in the hexagonal round. The United States ultimately failed to qualify for the tournament, a first since 1986. Since that campaign, Nagbe has declined further call-ups to the national team, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Throughout his international career, he earned 25 caps and scored one goal for the United States.
5. Playing style and characteristics
Darlington Nagbe is renowned for his exceptional playing style, characterized by superb technical ability, high soccer IQ, and a calming presence in the midfield. Originally deployed as a winger or attacking midfielder during his time at Akron and in his early professional career with Portland, Nagbe transitioned to a more withdrawn, box-to-box role in the middle of the 2015 season, and later settled into an even deeper role.
His former Portland Timbers teammate, Diego Valeri, eloquently described Nagbe's selfless nature and remarkable ball control: "Selfishness doesn't fit into team sports. The ball must be shared. However, Darlington Nagbe could very well keep it at his feet for an entire match, and I bet no one would take it away. The captain of Columbus is a humble soul and an outstanding football player."
Coaches and teammates alike have praised his unique attributes. Frank De Boer, his former coach at Atlanta United, famously described Nagbe as "the cement between the bricks," even likening his style to that of Sergio Busquets, highlighting his foundational role in connecting the team's play. Nagbe's ability to maintain composure on the ball allows him to skillfully take on defenders or dribble out of challenging situations. His deft first touch and fluid comfort enable him to transition rapidly from defense to attack. Furthermore, Nagbe is an intricate and precise passer, highly effective in tight spaces. Beyond his midfield control, he also possesses the knack for scoring occasional spectacular goals that often earn "goal of the season" accolades. His adaptability in different midfield roles, combined with his technical prowess and composure, makes him an invaluable asset to any team.
6. Personal life
Darlington Nagbe is the son of Somah Nagbe and Joe Nagbe, who notably served as the former captain of the Liberia national football team. He grew up with an older brother, Joe Jr., and two younger sisters, Martha and Seta. In 2012, Darlington Nagbe married Felicia Houtz. Together, they have a daughter named Mila and two sons, Kingston and Isaiah.
Nagbe's pathway to becoming a U.S. citizen was gradual. He first received his U.S. green card in 2012, which designated him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes. He then officially became a United States citizen in September 2015, opening the door for his international career with the U.S. National Team. Nagbe has cited legendary French footballer Thierry Henry as his sporting idol.
7. Honors and achievements
Darlington Nagbe has accumulated an impressive list of team and individual honors throughout his collegiate and professional career, reflecting his consistent excellence and significant contributions to his teams.
7.1. Club and collegiate honors
- Akron Zips**
- NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament: 2010
- Portland Timbers**
- MLS Cup: 2015
- Atlanta United FC**
- MLS Cup: 2018
- Campeones Cup: 2019
- U.S. Open Cup: 2019
- Columbus Crew**
- MLS Cup: 2020, 2023
- Campeones Cup: 2021
- Leagues Cup: 2024
- CONCACAF Champions Cup runner-up: 2024
7.2. International honors
- United States**
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017
7.3. Individual honors
- Hermann Trophy: 2010
- MLS Goal of the Year: 2011, 2020
- MLS Fair Play Award: 2013, 2015, 2019
- MLS All-Star: 2016, 2022, 2024
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017
- Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award: 2024
- MLS 400 Games Club
8. Career statistics
8.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | U.S. Open Cup | Playoffs | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portland Timbers | 2011 | Major League Soccer | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2012 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 6 | ||||
| 2013 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | 42 | 11 | |||
| 2014 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |||
| 2015 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 40 | 5 | |||
| 2016 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 1 | 31 | 2 | |||
| 2017 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 29 | 3 | |||
| Total | 214 | 27 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 239 | 31 | ||
| Atlanta United FC | 2018 | Major League Soccer | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 28 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 2 | ||
| Total | 56 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 74 | 2 | ||
| Columbus Crew | 2020 | Major League Soccer | 15 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | - | 19 | 2 | ||
| 2021 | 33 | 2 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 37 | 2 | ||||
| 2022 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 3 | ||||
| 2023 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 4 | ||
| 2024 | 29 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 44 | 0 | |||
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 146 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 179 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 416 | 38 | 14 | 2 | 32 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 492 | 44 | ||
8.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 25, 2016 | Toyota Stadium, Frisco, United States | Ecuador | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |