Darlington Nagbe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Darlington Nagbe

Nagbe with the Columbus Crew in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Darlington Joephillip Nagbe
Date of birth	(1990-07-19) July 19, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Monrovia, Liberia
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Columbus Crew
Number	6
Youth career
2000–2007	Internationals SC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2010	Cleveland Internationals	18	(7)
2011–2017	Portland Timbers	214	(27)
2018–2019	Atlanta United	56	(2)
2020–	Columbus Crew	145	(9)
National team‡
2015–2018	United States	25	(1)
Honours Representing  United States Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2017
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:09, October 13, 2024 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of March 27, 2018

Darlington Joephillip Nagbe (born July 19, 1990) is a professional soccer player. He plays as a midfielder and is the captain for the Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. Darlington was born in Liberia. He also played for the United States national team.

Nagbe spent his first seven seasons playing for the Portland Timbers. He helped them win the MLS Cup in 2015. After that, he joined Atlanta United FC and won another MLS Cup. He also won the U.S. Open Cup and the Campeones Cup with Atlanta. In 2019, he moved to the Columbus Crew. There, he has won two more MLS Cup titles and another Campeones Cup.

Darlington Nagbe first played for the United States national team in November 2015. He played in a qualifying match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He played 25 games for the national team. He also helped them win the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Darlington Nagbe's Early Life and Soccer Start

Darlington Nagbe was born in Liberia. When he was only five months old, his mother left the country because of a war. She took Darlington and his brother with her. They joined his father, Joe Nagbe, who was also a professional soccer player. His father's career took the family to France, Greece, and Switzerland.

In 2001, when Darlington was 11, his family moved to the Cleveland area in the United States. He grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. He played high school soccer and was a top player. He scored 18 goals and had 10 assists in his senior year. He also played for a club team called the Cleveland Internationals. They won four state titles.

Playing College Soccer

Nagbe played college soccer at the University of Akron. He played 73 games over three years. He scored 19 goals and made 19 assists. In 2008, he was named the best new player in his conference.

In 2010, Nagbe helped the Akron Zips win their first national championship. They won 1–0 against Louisville. After this, he was named the best college soccer player of the year. While in college, he also played for the Cleveland Internationals in a league called the USL Premier Development League. He scored seven goals in 18 games for them.

Darlington Nagbe's Club Career

Playing for Portland Timbers

Nagbe with the Portland Timbers in 2015

The Portland Timbers picked Nagbe second overall in the 2011 MLS draft. He missed the first few weeks of the season because of surgery. He played his first professional game on April 2, 2011. It was a 1–1 tie against the New England Revolution.

In July 2011, Nagbe scored his first goal in Major League Soccer. It was a fantastic shot that was named the 2011 MLS Goal of the Year.

Key Moments with Portland

In 2012, Nagbe scored two goals in one game for the first time. He ended the season with six goals. He usually played as an attacking midfielder. In 2013, his college coach, Caleb Porter, became the coach for Portland. Nagbe scored 11 goals that year. He played mostly on the left side of the field. He also scored in Portland's first-ever playoff game. After the season, he won the Fair Play Award for being a very clean player. He only committed eight fouls all season.

In 2015, Nagbe was a big part of Portland's team that won the MLS Cup. He moved to a more central role in the team that year. He started almost every game. He also won the Fair Play Award again.

In 2016, Nagbe got injured during a game against the LA Galaxy. He missed two matches but came back quickly. Later that year, he was chosen for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game for the first time. After the 2017 season, Nagbe was part of trade talks. He then moved to a new team.

Joining Atlanta United

Nagbe playing for Atlanta United FC in 2018

On December 13, 2017, Atlanta United FC traded for Nagbe. He joined a strong Atlanta team that scored many goals.

Winning with Atlanta

In his first season with Atlanta in 2018, Nagbe started 17 games in a row. He then missed almost three months because of an injury. He was chosen for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game again, but he couldn't play because of his injury. When he came back, he helped Atlanta United win their first MLS Cup. They beat his old team, the Portland Timbers, 2–0.

In 2019, Nagbe was a key player for Atlanta. He helped them win the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and the 2019 Campeones Cup. He played in 46 games that year. At the end of the season, Nagbe wanted to be closer to his family. He was then traded to the Columbus Crew.

Playing for Columbus Crew

On November 13, 2019, the Columbus Crew got Nagbe in a trade. He was reunited with his former coach, Caleb Porter, from his college and Portland days.

Success with Columbus

In the 2020 season, which was shorter due to COVID-19, Nagbe played in 15 games. He scored his first goal for Columbus in August 2020. This goal was named the 2020 MLS Goal of the Year, making it his second time winning this award. He helped the Crew reach the MLS Cup Final. He missed the final game because he tested positive for COVID-19. However, Columbus won the game, giving Nagbe his third MLS Cup title.

In 2021, Nagbe got injured in Columbus's first game of the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. He missed two games but then played every game for the rest of the season. He helped the team win the 2021 Campeones Cup.

In the 2022 season, Nagbe started every single league game for Columbus. He scored three goals, which was his highest since 2017. He was also named to the 2022 MLS All-Star Game again.

In 2023, Nagbe became the new captain of the Columbus Crew. He played in all 34 regular season games. He led Columbus to win the MLS Cup again, beating LAFC 2–1. This was Nagbe's fourth MLS Cup, making him one of only ten players in MLS history to win four titles. After the season, he signed a new contract to stay with Columbus until at least 2025.

Darlington Nagbe's International Career

Nagbe became a United States citizen in September 2015. Soon after, he was called to play for the United States men's national soccer team. He made his first international appearance on November 13, 2015. He came into the game as a substitute.

Nagbe scored his first goal for the U.S. National Team on May 25, 2016. It was the winning goal in a friendly match against Ecuador. He also joined the team for the knockout stage of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The United States won this tournament, and Nagbe was named one of the best players in the tournament. He also played in the team's World Cup qualifying games for 2018. However, the United States did not qualify for the World Cup that year. Since then, Nagbe has chosen not to play for the national team. He wants to spend more time with his family.

How Darlington Nagbe Plays Soccer

Darlington Nagbe is known for his calm and smart play in the middle of the field. He started his career playing on the sides of the field or as an attacking midfielder. Later, he moved to a deeper role in the midfield. His former coach, Frank De Boer, once said Nagbe was "the cement between the bricks." This means he holds the team together.

Nagbe is very good with the ball. He can dribble past defenders and get out of tricky situations. He has a great first touch and can quickly change from defending to attacking. He is also a very accurate passer, even in small spaces. Plus, he can score amazing goals sometimes!

Darlington Nagbe's Personal Life

Darlington Nagbe's father, Joe Nagbe, was also a famous soccer player. He used to be the captain of the Liberian national team. Darlington has two younger sisters, Martha and Seta, and an older brother, Joe Jr. In 2012, he married Felicia Houtz. They have a daughter named Mila and two sons, Kingston and Isaiah.

Nagbe got his U.S. green card in 2012. This meant he was considered a local player for MLS teams. He became a United States citizen in September 2015. He looks up to famous soccer player Thierry Henry as his sports idol.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Darlington Nagbe

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	May 25, 2016	Toyota Stadium, Frisco, United States	Ecuador	1–0	1–0	Friendly

Awards and Honors

Akron Zips

• NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament: 2010

Portland Timbers

• MLS Cup: 2015

Atlanta United

• 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

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017

Individual Awards

• Hermann Trophy Winner: 2010 (Best College Player)
• MLS Goal of the Year: 2011, 2020
• MLS Fair Play Award: 2013, 2015, 2019 (Award for being a clean player)
• MLS All-Star: 2016, 2022, 2024
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017 (One of the best players in the tournament)
• Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award: 2024
• MLS 400 Games Club (Played 400 or more MLS games)

See also

In Spanish: Darlington Nagbe para niños