Columbus Crew SC completed the signing of U.S. youth international goalkeeper Zack Steffen on Friday.
Steffen, 21, joined German club Freiburg after leaving the University of Maryland in 2014. He played with the club's reserve side last season and had been expected to be their No. 3 goalkeeper this year as Freiburg were promoted to the top flight.
Instead, he will return to the U.S. with Columbus, where he will compete with veteran goalkeeper Steve Clark.
"Zack is a talented goalkeeper with great potential and someone who has performed on the biggest stages for the United States youth national teams," Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter said in a statement.
NEWS: #CrewSC signs goalkeeper @z_steff1 from German @Bundesliga_EN side @sc_freiburg.https://t.co/8cefXNmeZN pic.twitter.com/aD87jYuGTd
- Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) July 22, 2016
"We believe he has a bright future and we look forward to working with him."
Steffen started for the U.S. at the Under-20 World Cup and made one appearance for the under-23 team in a friendly against the England under-21s last September.
He earned a call-up to U.S. senior team training camp before the Copa America this summer, but he had to decline because of an injury.