Former Union prospect Connor Maloney signs with Columbus Crew

Add Connor Maloney to the list of former Philadelphia Union youth to join Major League Soccer.

The 21-year-old who starred for four years at Penn State was officially signed by Columbus Crew SC on Monday.

“I’m very honored to have this opportunity and I’m definitely not going to take it for granted,” he said in a video on the Columbus Crew website.

The Harrisburg native was drafted by the Crew with the fifth pick in the third round and the 49th overall selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft last month.

Prior to college, he was on the Philadelphia Union U16 team that won the 2012 Generation adidas Cup. He spent time at Reading United A.C. during college and trained with the first team as recently as last summer.

Known as a goal-scorer attacker in college - he had 26 goals and 17 assists with the Nittany Lions - he’s been converted to a right back since joining the Crew in preseason.

Maloney is rejoining former Union youth teammate Zack Steffen on the Crew. The goalkeeper signed with the club last summer after spending two years in Germany.

The Crew also signed fellow draft pick Logan Ketterer, a goalkeeper out of Bradley University, on Monday.

“We’d like to congratulate Logan and Connor on signing with Crew SC after working hard this preseason and integrating with the club,” Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said in a news release. “We look forward to seeing their development during their first year in MLS.“