Revolution sign free agent defender Jonathan Mensah

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have signed veteran defender Jonathan Mensah as a free agent. Mensah, an MLS Cup winner and former MLS Best XI selection, joins the Revolution on a one-year contract for the 2024 Major League Soccer season with an additional one-year option for 2025.

Mensah arrives in New England with seven seasons of MLS experience, including a six-year tenure with the Columbus Crew from 2017-2022. Under the guidance of New England’s new head coach, Caleb Porter, Mensah helped Columbus win the 2020 MLS Cup title, playing every minute of the regular season and playoffs and earning MLS Best XI recognition. He then went on to help the Crew win the Campeones Cup in 2021, before setting a career high with 30 starts during the 2022 campaign. Ahead of the 2023 campaign, Mensah joined the San Jose Earthquakes, where the 33-year-old made 26 appearances, with 21 starts, to help San Jose reach the postseason.

“Jonathan Mensah is an experienced defender with a long history of success in our league and at the international level, and someone who knows firsthand what it takes to win an MLS Cup,” Sporting Director Curt Onalfo said. “Adding Jonathan to our already talented group of central defenders gives us the depth required to field a strong team in every competition as we navigate a busy schedule.”

The central defender, who donned the captain’s armband in Columbus, was named the Crew’s Defender of the Year three consecutive times from 2018-2020. In total, Mensah has accumulated 185 regular season appearances, 176 of them starts, with seven goals and three assists, plus an additional 13 starts in the MLS Cup Playoffs. As the founder of the Jonathan Mensah Foundation, he was also honored as the club’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2017.

“Jonathan is a person of the utmost character who embodies strong leadership qualities. During our time together in Columbus, he is someone my staff and I could depend on each and every week, bringing a professionalism and passion to the pitch,” Head Coach Caleb Porter said. “Jonathan knows what it takes to win a championship and will bolster our center back depth and bring a positive presence to the locker room.”

The Ghana native began his professional career in his home country with Ashanti Gold after rising through the club’s academy setup. Mensah earned his pro debut with Ashanti Gold as a teenager during the 2007-08 campaign, before subsequent stints with South African club Free State Stars (2008-2009), Italian club Udinese (2010-2011), French side Evian (2011-2016), and Russian Premier Leaue club Anzhi Makhachkala (2016). With Evian, he totaled 44 appearances in France’s Ligue 1 between 2011-15. Mensah also spent time on loan in Spain with Granada between 2009-11, seeing action in 15 Segunda División contests.

On the international stage, Mensah has won 70 caps with the Ghana Men’s National Team, including six appearances in FIFA World Cup play. Mensah is a two-time World Cup participant, helping the Black Stars reach the quarterfinal round in South Africa in 2010 before posting three appearances in group stage play in Brazil in 2014. Mensah previously represented Ghana at the Under-20 level, helping the Black Stars win the 2009 African Youth Championship and the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign defender Jonathan Mensah as a free agent to a one-year contract for the 2024 MLS season with an additional one-year club option for 2025 on Jan. 4, 2024.

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The New England Revolution have undergone major changes in their coaching staff and front office over the past several weeks, with some questions remaining unanswered.

What exactly did now-former head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena say or do to set off this entire chain of events in the first place? What exactly was former interim head coach Richie Williams' role in the whole thing? Are the changes done, or are more coming?

But for now, the dust is settling on what's been a tumultuous month-plus for the Revs, all stemming from an incident (or incidents) that the details of which remain curiously under wraps. At the moment, the most important detail is that Arena is out as the club's head coach and sporting director. Clint Peay taking over as interim head coach, while Williams, who was previously the interim head coach in Arena's absence, appears to be out.

Here's a brief timeline of events that have taken place within the New England Revolution since the start of August, leading up to the most recent moves in the organization...

The Revs released a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 1 announcing that Arena was being placed on administrative leave, due to an ongoing investigation by Major League Soccer into "allegations of insensitive and inappropriate remarks." Here's the statement in full:

"The New England Revolution organization has placed Coach Arena on administrative leave as a result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by Major League Soccer into allegations of insensitive and inappropriate remarks. The organization takes any allegations of workplace misconduct extremely seriously and is working closely with the League and fully cooperating with its investigation."

Fast-forward exactly four weeks, and Williams' tenure as interim head coach was in full swing. But it was also the first chance for Zolak and Bertrand to ask Williams about the Arena investigation, so they asked him about it in an interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Williams didn't share any details, but he feigned ignorance on the matter, and you'll find out why that's significant later.

“We don’t have any inside info on it. We know exactly what you know, which is nothing,” Williams said. "Really, our focus has been on leading the team."

Nearly six weeks after Arena was placed on administrative leave, the details of the investigation and his status with the club remained a mystery. Then suddenly, around 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, Sept. 9, Arena and the Revs each issued statements announcing Arena's resignation.

"I know that I have made some mistakes and moving forward, I plan to spend some time reflecting on this situation and taking corrective steps to address what has transpired," Arena's statement read, in part. "And while this has not been an easy decision, I am confident that it is in the best interest of both the New England Revolution organization and my family that we part ways at this time."

Click here to read the full statement.

As reported by Pablo Maurer and Tim Bogert at The Athletic, Revolution players "refused to train" on Tuesday, Sept. 2 following a meeting with team President Brian Bilello and a second meeting with the coaching staff.

During the meeting with the other coaches, players reportedly asked Williams "about his reported involvement in the investigation into his former boss." Williams reportedly said he was "unable to comment."

One Revs player reportedly told The Athletic: "Not many guys trust Richie leading the team right now."

Later in what turned out to be a wild Tuesday for the Revs, the club announced several changes to the coaching staff. Most notably, Clint Peay would be taking over as interim head coach. Williams' status with the club was not disclosed, but this presumably means he's officially out.

In addition, the Revs announced that Marcelo Santos is joining the staff as an assistant coach. As for other departures, the club also parted ways with assistant coaches Dave van den Bergh and Shalrie Joseph.

Ven den Bergh had been an assistant coach with the Revs since 2019, while Joseph played for New England from 2003-12, before joining the organization as a coach in 2020. From Arena to Joseph, these collective moves could qualify as "cleaning house."

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt's content here.

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