In a move that has been anticipated, the Crew has officially parted ways with goalkeeper Eloy Room.

After entering the 2023 season as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, the Crew and Room have mutually agreed to terminate the remainder of his contract.

“Through open, respectful conversations, the club and Eloy collectively determined it was best to allow him to become a free agent and explore opportunities to play more significant minutes elsewhere,” Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. “We wish him well as he moves to a new club, and he will always be able to call Columbus home.”

After joining the Crew in 2019, Room started 96 games and recorded 25 shutouts. He was the starter in the Crew’s 3-0 win against Seattle in the 2020 MLS Cup, a season in which he was also a finalist for the league’s goalkeeper of the year. He was the Crew’s defensive player of the year in 2021 and 2022 but never really got going in 2023. First, a green card issue cost him the opener, and then a knee injury in early April opened the door for rookie Patrick Schulte to assume the No. 1 role.

Room appeared in three games this season and had one shutout with a 70.0% save percentage. Schulte has started 20 games for the Crew and has four shutouts with a 68.1% save percentage.

“My time at the Crew was extremely special,” Room said. “We’ve shared some incredible moments that I will never forget like winning the MLS Cup, and I’m going to miss having the Nordecke behind me. Today, I leave as a player, but join as a fan. Columbus Crew will forever be a part of me.”

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew, Eloy Room officially agree to part ways