'I've been through thick and thin here': How Aidan Morris has grown with Columbus Crew
Aidan Morris had been known in the Crew locker room for his focus and dedication in making the club successful, but he still had long-term goals of his own.
Never one to be looking too far ahead, Morris made it known that he hoped to one day play in Europe, and at age of 22 Morris has made it happen.
Morris' signing with England's second-tier Middlesbrough FC is expected to become official in the upcoming days, with the midfielder already having played in his final match for the Crew on Saturday.
"This is a good example of what the club wants to do," said Crew coach Wilfried Nancy. "Develop young players, and also help them to get better. And after that, see what we do in the future with them. So, this is exactly the mentality that we want ... this is the vision."
Morris joined the Crew's academy as a 16-year-old in 2017 and has been a model for organization's homegrown talent. In his seven years with Columbus, Morris has been a part of two MLS Cups, the Crew's first CONCACAF Champions Cup final and has been named an MLS All-Star. The midfielder has also made multiple appearances with the United States Men's National Team and is expected to make the Olympic roster.
With a long list of achievements in a young career, Morris kept working toward what was next in his career, even if that meant leaving the club where he'd become one of the longest-tenured players.
"He wants to keep continuing to push himself each and every day," said Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. "He's been here for seven years, getting out of his comfort zone and going over there and trying to take that next step in his career, I'm supper happy for him. It's what we talk about all the time."
'Maturity and growth, determination and discipline' has been on display from Aidan Morris during time with Columbus Crew
In Morris' first professional season with Columbus, he became the youngest player to ever start in an MLS Cup final, slotting in for veteran Darlington Nagbe, who was unavailable to participate in the 2020 title match after testing positive for COVID-19.
Morris made the most of the opportunity, recording an assist in the Crew's 3-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders, which was just the start of the midfielder becoming a fan favorite in Columbus. The support Morris would receive throughout his time with the club was evident even when the strong start to his career hit a road bump in the 2021 season.
"They've had my back since I was 18," Morris said. "I've been through thick and thin here. Tearing my ACL (in 2021), coming back, fighting for starting positions. It's been a long journey."
After missing nearly a full season due to his ACL injury, Morris returned to full activity in 2022, but he was splitting the starting role at center midfield with Artur, whom the Crew would trade to the Houston Dynamo by the end of the year.
During his time with the Crew, Morris built a reputation for playing intensely, and he demonstrated the ability to be involved in plays along the full length of the field. Continuing to sharpen his skills under Nancy, who arrived in Columbus at the start of the 2023 season, Morris went from an 88.3% passing rate to 93.15% the past two seasons.
While the physical skills were evident from Morris, he also started to show signs of leadership as he gained more experience. When midfielder Will Sands suffered the same ACL injury in 2023 that Morris had two years prior, it was Morris who Sands leaned on for advice during his recovery.
"When I first got the injury, I was a little bit overwhelmed, and it was just kind of a low point," Sands said. "He (Morris) helped me manage that time well. It feels like the world's kind of crashing down around you, but he was able to give some insight and help me through that hardest point."
Nagbe, who has been beside Morris for his whole career in Columbus, has seen the growth from Morris. Nagbe was impressed by Morris' mentality, especially during the recovery from his injury.
"Most guys might just take (the year) off and don't take it seriously," Nagbe said. "He just tried to improve and get better, even though he wasn't playing. Just his maturity and growth, determination and discipline, it's taken him a long way."
'When it's scary to jump, that's when you got to jump': Morris on making the move to Middlesbrough
In December, with a second MLS Cup added to his resume, Morris sat next to Nagbe following the Crew's 2-1 victory over Los Angeles FC, hoping to "run it back" for one more championship together. A relationship that had grown from mentorship to friendship, Morris' departure spoils the plans of another title for the foreseeable future.
"It's going to be tough," Nagbe said. "We talked about this (his goals of playing in Europe) for so long. Obviously, when you're closer with someone off the field, I think you click more on the field. I'm looking forward to building a new relationship but can't replace him."
Nagbe has a sense of pride for his now former teammate taking this next step to play in England. Promising to watch Morris from afar as a fan, Nagbe's emotions mirror the feelings that a majority of Crew fans have expressed.
In Morris' final match at Lower.com Field on Saturday, fans showed their appreciation for Morris with "thank you Aidan" chants.
Morris admits it is difficult leaving Columbus.
"I'm always looking to grow and get better and challenge myself," Morris said. "They say when it's scary to jump, that's when you got to jump. I'm very comfortable here and I love my life here. Things are amazing, but I've got to take a leap, step outside my comfort zone."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Aidan Morris goes from homegrown Columbus Crew talent to England
