Evan Bush Bio
Evan William Bush (born March 6, 1986) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, he has built a long career in North American soccer, playing across several leagues before establishing himself in MLS. He is best known for his time with the Montreal Impact, where he developed into a reliable starter and won individual awards at both the domestic and continental levels.
After spending the better part of a decade in Montreal, Bush was traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2020 and then to Columbus Crew later the same year. He has remained with the Crew since, re-signing on multiple occasions and contributing in cup competitions. His career reflects steady progression through the lower divisions of American and Canadian soccer into a sustained role in one of North America’s top leagues.
Early Life and Background
Evan William Bush was born on March 6, 1986, in Concord Township, Ohio, in the United States. He grew up in northeast Ohio and attended Lake Catholic High School in nearby Mentor, Ohio, where he was a multi-sport athlete. At Lake Catholic he played soccer, basketball, and football, showing the kind of broad athletic background common among young goalkeepers who develop strong hand-eye coordination and field awareness.
Coming out of high school, Bush committed to play college soccer at the University of Akron, joining the Akron Zips program. The Zips are well known for developing professional goalkeepers, and Bush quickly became a central figure for the team. He also spent time with the Cleveland Force in youth-level setups, further grounding himself in the regional soccer scene before turning professional.
Path to Professional Soccer
During his time at Akron, Bush earned widespread recognition. He was named to the NSCAA all-Great Lakes Region team and the 2008 all-Ohio team, and he was a three-time all-Mid-American Conference first team selection. In 2005 he was named MAC Newcomer of the Year, was selected to the 2005 Freshman All-American team, and finished his collegiate career as the all-time MAC leader in wins (62), shutouts (48), and goals-against average (.60).
While still in college, Bush gained senior experience with Chicago Fire Premier in 2006, the Cleveland Internationals in 2007, and the Cape Cod Crusaders in 2008, all in the USL Premier Development League. He was named to the PDL All-Central Conference team in 2006. He turned professional in 2009 after a trial with Seattle Sounders FC did not lead to a contract.
Evan Bush Career
Early Career (2009-2010)
Bush signed with the Cleveland City Stars of the USL First Division and made his professional debut on May 30, 2009, against the Charleston Battery. The move gave him his first full professional season and a chance to test himself at a higher level than the PDL. A year later, on February 18, 2010, Crystal Palace Baltimore announced the signing of Bush for the 2010 season, continuing his path through the lower divisions of American soccer.
Montreal Impact Breakthrough (2011-2015)
On March 11, 2011, Bush signed with the Montreal Impact of the North American Soccer League. He began the year as a backup to Bill Gaudette, but an injury opened the door for consistent playing time. Bush seized the opportunity, earning two Defensive Player of the Week honors and one Player of the Month award, while finishing with nine shutouts, including seven in the final 10 matches. He was awarded the 2011 NASL Golden Glove as the goalkeeper with the best goals-against average.
When Montreal joined MLS in 2012, Bush signed a new contract on October 21, 2011 to remain with the club. Early MLS appearances were limited, mostly in the Canadian Championship and the CONCACAF Champions League, but he signed a new deal on November 21, 2014. The 2015 season became his breakthrough, as he became Montreal’s number one goalkeeper and helped the club reach the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, where he won the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove as the tournament’s top goalkeeper.
Columbus Crew Era (2020-Present)
On September 28, 2020, after appearing in zero games for Montreal that year, Bush was traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He never played for Vancouver, as he was traded again on December 14, 2020, to Columbus Crew for $125,000 in General Allocation Money. In 2021, Bush made five appearances for the Crew, including a 2-0 shutout of Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup.
Bush re-signed with Columbus on January 10, 2022, with an option for 2023, and signed another one-year deal at the end of the 2023 season. During the 2024 season, he broke his arm in a match against Real Salt Lake and suffered a further setback when he broke the same arm again in training while preparing to return. He has continued to be listed as part of the Columbus Crew goalkeeping group.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is a soccer goalkeeper rather than a racing driver, Bush’s professional strengths mirror those of an experienced MLS veteran. He is recognized for his organization of the back line, his shot-stopping reflexes developed through years of starting reps, and his calm distribution from the back. His tenure in Montreal showed he could handle high-pressure continental games, while his later work in Columbus highlighted his reliability as a veteran backup and cup-competition option.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Bush’s career came on August 7, 2013, when he saved a penalty from Alan Gordon in a CONCACAF Champions League match to preserve a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. Another major moment was the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League final against Club América, where a controversial yellow card ruled him out of the second leg in Montreal. His selection as the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove winner remains one of the highest individual honors of his career.
Evan Bush Career Wins
Across his career in the USL First Division, the NASL, the CONCACAF Champions League, and MLS, Bush has accumulated individual recognition and team trophies. His most notable honors include the 2011 NASL Golden Glove, the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove, and team trophies won with the Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew.
Major League Soccer Highlights
In MLS, Bush has served as both a starter and a veteran backup for the Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew. He appeared in cup competitions for the Impact and played five matches for the Crew in 2021, including the Campeones Cup shutout of Cruz Azul. His most recent contributions have come as an experienced presence in the Crew’s goalkeeping room.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of MLS, Bush set the all-time Mid-American Conference record for wins, shutouts, and goals-against average while at Akron. He earned NASL Defensive Player of the Week honors twice in 2011 and a Player of the Month award, and he was named to the 2006 PDL All-Central Conference team while with Chicago Fire Premier.
Evan Bush Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Bush’s immediate family is limited. He is identified as the son of an Ohio family, growing up in Concord Township before attending Lake Catholic High School in Mentor. There is no widely documented multi-generational soccer lineage in his family based on the available verified information.
Personal Life
Bush has kept much of his personal life private, and verified public details about a spouse or children are not available in current sources. He has spent most of his professional career living in cities across the United States and Canada, including Cleveland, Baltimore, Montreal, Vancouver, and Columbus, in line with his team moves. He maintains a public Instagram presence under the handle evanbush1.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Bush remains part of the Columbus Crew goalkeeping group, with the 2024 arm injury and its training setback the most recent development on record. Recovery from that second fracture will likely determine how much first-team action he sees, as the Crew continue to rely on a mix of starters and veteran depth. His contract history with Columbus, including re-signings in 2022 and at the end of 2023, suggests the club values his experience in the locker room and on the training field.
For 2025, Bush is expected to serve primarily as a backup option behind the Crew’s established starters, with opportunities in cup competitions and emergency league starts. His role as a mentor to younger goalkeepers is also likely to be an important part of his contribution, given his long track record in professional soccer. If he returns to full fitness, his shot-stopping and organizational skills make him a dependable option for the Crew across the busy MLS and cup schedule.