Columbus Crew exercise options on 5 more players

The Columbus Crew have secured five additional players for the 2017 MLS season.

Nicolai Naess, Marshall Hollingsworth, Cristian Martinez, Mohammed Saeid, and the wonderfully named Dilly Duka will all return for the next campaign, following Monday's news that Designated Player Federico Higuain, Wil Trapp, and Justin Meram were all retained.

Related: Columbus Crew exercise options on Higuain, Meram, Trapp

Meanwhile, the Crew didn't exercise their options on Steve Clark, Matt Pacifici, Corey Ashe, and Cedrick Mabwati, while Chad Barson and Michael Parkhurst are out of contract.

These widespread changes to Gregg Berhalter's squad are intended to address the Crew's derisory ninth-place finish in the 2016 Eastern Conference.

"Our goal is to return to being one of the conference leaders," sporting director and head coach Berhalter told the club website. "Today's moves are another step in that direction as we continue to shape the roster for 2017."