Columbus Crew sign Jonathan Mensah as Designated Player

Ghanaian centre-back Jonathan Mensah joined the Columbus Crew on a Designated Player contract on Tuesday.

The defender spent last year with Anzhi Makhachkala in the Russian Premier League, and is set to represent the Black Stars with new teammate Harrison Afful at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

No financial details have been released for the transfer, but Mensah had one-and-a-half years remaining on his contract in the Republic of Dagestan.

"We are pleased to announce the signing of central defender Jonathan Mensah as a Designated Player," Crew sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a club statement. "Jonathan is a physically dominant central defender who at a young age has already proven himself on the world's biggest stage. We look forward to him making an immediate impact in Columbus."

Mensah, 26, played every minute of Ghana's run to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, where his homeland was defeated by Ivory Coast. He also appeared at the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.

The former Evian and Granada CF man becomes the second Designated Player at the Mapfre Stadium after Federico Higuain.