Noonan Coming Back with Crew

Former Rev Signs with MLS; Traded to Columbus

August 7, 2008

By Nick Williams

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Pat Noonan is returning to MLS – just not with the Revolution.

Pat Noonan has returned to MLS, although not with the Revs. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

The club announced Wednesday that Noonan resigned with Major League Soccer and has been traded to Columbus in exchange for allocation money and the Crew’s first-round selection in the 2009 MLS draft.

Noonan, 28, left the Revs on a free transfer to Norway’s Aalesund FK this offseason. The forward played all of the 2008 calendar year with Aalsesund, which plays in the Norweigian Premier League, after signing a lucrative three-year pact in January, but wanted to return to MLS to revive his international career.

As part of the deal, the Revs and Crew also agreed to switch positions in the current 2008 allocation standings and agreed to considerations regarding the 2009 allocation rankings. New England moves into the third spot and Columbus to 10th place in the current allocation rankings with this trade.

Noonan played five seasons for the Revs after being drafted in the first round (ninth overall) by the team in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. He scored nine goals in 35 games for the Revs last season and netted 42 goals in 137 games over five seasons with the club. He is tied with Joe-Max Moore for second place on the club's all-time scoring list behind Taylor Twellman and remains in third in both career goals and assists in club annals.

The Revolution, meanwhile, return to MLS regular-season action Saturday after more than a one month break to compete in SuperLiga.

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