Crew SC signs midfielder Kristinn Steindorsson

Kristinn Steindorsson - 2014 highlights from Sportic Players Management on Vimeo.
Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club has signed midfielder Kristinn Steindorsson (pronounced: KRIS-tin STYNE-door-son). A wide attacking midfielder and a native Icelander, Steindorsson, 24, comes to Columbus from Halmstads BK of the Swedish Allsvenskan, where he scored eight goals in 29 appearances last season. Per club and MLS policy, additional details of the deal were not disclosed. Steindorsson will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster on January 1, 2015, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.




“We are very pleased to add a player of Kristinn’s attacking caliber to our group,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “We have tracked his progress in Sweden for a while and feel he will complement our current corps of wide attacking midfielders next season.”




Steindorsson joined Halmstads BK in 2012, scoring seven goals in 29 appearances for the then Second-Division side. He helped the club to a third place finish and eventual promotion after defeating GIF Sundsvall in a two-legged playoff. Upon promotion to the Allsvenskan, Steindorsson notched one goal in 2013 before improving to net eight in the 2014 campaign.

Prior to his move to Sweden, the midfielder played for Breidablik in his native Iceland. He made his senior team debut in 2008 at the age of 17, making six appearances for the club. In 2009, he broke out to the tune of eight goals in 22 appearances, helping Breidablik finish fifth and earn a place in the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round. That season, Steindorsson also helped his club capture the Icelandic Cup after beating Fram in the final on penalties.




In 2010, Steindorsson led Breidablik to the Urvalsdeild title while scoring a single-season best 12 goals in 22 appearances. The league title ensured Breidablik's passage to the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round. The midfielder also made his European debut by making two appearances in the 2010-11 Europa League Second Qualifying Round against Scottish club Motherwell.




Steindorsson's final season with Breidablik in 2011 yielded double figures in goals after recording 11 tallies in 22 matches. Although the Icelandic club fell to Norwegian side Rosenborg in the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round on aggregate, Steindorsson started both matches, scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal in the second leg.




The midfielder made numerous appearances for the Iceland Youth National Teams, scoring five times for the Under-17s and once for the U-21s. He appeared in qualification matches for both the 2013 and 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, scoring his lone U-21 goal in an 8-0 win over San Marino ahead of the 2011 tournament.




TRANSACTION
: Columbus Crew SC signs midfielder Kristinn Steindorsson. He will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster on January 1, 2015, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.