Patrick Mullins Traded to Columbus Crew SC as D.C. United Brings in Wayne Rooney

Reshuffling in D.C.: Patrick Mullins Exits as Rooney Arrives

D.C. United fans got a double dose of roster drama in July 2018. As famous English striker Wayne Rooney signed on from Everton, longtime forward Patrick Mullins was sent packing to Columbus Crew SC. The deal, worth $150,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), marked a significant change in both DC's strategy and Mullins’ career path. Mullins, only 26 at the time, suddenly found his spot crowded out by a superstar’s arrival.

Mullins’ role had already been shrinking. Despite his knack for timely goals in previous seasons, he only started two out of ten games for D.C. that year and hadn’t scored once. Still, his three-year total with the club—13 goals and two assists over 46 matches—shows he wasn’t just passing through. But with D.C. United mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, change was the only thing guaranteed.

A New Challenge in Columbus

For Columbus Crew SC, Mullins represented low-risk, real experience, and a chance to give their offense a little more bite during the playoff push. Head coach Gregg Berhalter highlighted Mullins’ record as a proven scorer and liked the depth he could give the team, especially behind main striker Gyasi Zardes, who was enjoying a breakout season with almost half of Columbus’s goals to his name.

Mullins hit the ground running in Ohio. He debuted off the bench in a tight 3-2 win over Orlando City, wasted no time getting on the score sheet in another 3-2 thriller against New York Red Bulls, and ended up playing 13 regular-season games—including crucial minutes in three playoff matches. Even if his stats weren't eye-popping, he offered a valuable option whenever Zardes needed a break.

Let’s not forget how Mullins got here. He was twice a Hermann Trophy winner at the University of Maryland—a big deal in college soccer. His Major League Soccer path started with New England Revolution, made a pit stop at New York City FC, then landed him in Washington. By the end of 2018, Mullins had built up 23 goals and nine assists across 96 league games in five seasons, making him a steady, if not flashy, attacking asset.

On the D.C. side, General Manager Dave Kasper made it clear the trade wasn’t just about minutes on the pitch. That Targeted Allocation Money meant a lot more flexibility as the club juggled lineups and looked for pieces to build around Rooney. Kasper thanked Mullins for his work ethic and contributions—pretty standard, but still genuine considering Mullins’ role during some turbulent times for the United squad.

By early 2019, Mullins would move again—this time to Toronto FC. But for a key stretch, he offered Columbus a tested foot and brought some much-needed squad depth at a time when every playoff point mattered.