COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew 2 announced today the signing of defender Rui Aoki and midfielders Johann Chirinos and Moses Nyeman to MLS NEXT Pro contracts ahead of the 2026 season.
“We’re very excited to welcome all three players to Columbus this season,” Academy Director Brian Bliss said. “Rui plays with great energy and will be a leader as an experienced player on the back line. Johann is a dynamic player who we expect to help create opportunities in the final third. Moses brings tremendous experience with the Youth National Teams and in MLS, and we are looking forward to his contributions in the midfield.”
Aoki, a defender from Hyogo, Japan, joins the Capybaras after finishing his college career at the University of Vermont. Last year, Aoki played for reigning national champions Vermont, where he helped lead the Catamounts to a conference best 6-0-1 record in America East play and a 14-1-5 overall record. Aoki started nine of the 10 matches that Vermont recorded a clean sheet and scored a career-best two goals in 2025.
The 23-year-old began his collegiate career at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas, where he started 17 of 27 appearances across two seasons. Following the 2022-23 season, Aoki joined UMass Lowell and played in 27 contests (24 starts) over two campaigns.
Chirinos, a Honduran international, signed with Crew 2 from FC Ingolstadt II in Germany He registered five goals in 26 matches during the 2024-25 season and netted two more in just 10 matches of the most recent campaign.
After playing for the Atlanta United Academy, Chirinos made his professional debut on Aug. 13, 2023 for SpVgg Greuther Fürth U19 in the A-Juniors Bundesliga South. He registered four goals and one assist in 26 matches.
The midfielder has five caps for the Honduras U-21 team, including three appearances at the Central American Games in October. He scored his first international goal in a friendly against Guatemala on Sept. 24, 2025.
Nyeman comes to the Club after most recently playing with the USL Championship‘s Loudoun United.
The 22-year-old has logged more than 1,500 minutes in 38 MLS matches, including a combined 18 starts with DC United (2020-22), Real Salt Lake (2023) and Minnesota United FC (2024).
Nyeman started his career with the D.C. United Academy and made his professional debut at 15-years old for Loudoun United. In 2019, he competed in 15 matches for Loudoun and scored his first professional goal against Louisville City on July 28.
From 2020-22, Nyeman started 17 of 32 appearances for D.C. United, tallying three assists. Originally from Liberia, the midfielder made his MLS debut at just 16-years old after entering in the 79th minute for D.C. in a 4-1 loss against the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 29, 2020.
In 2022, Nyeman joined SK Beveren in the Challenger Pro League, Belgium’s second division, before being loaned to Real Salt Lake in 2023. he made two appearances for Salt Lake and started 16 matches for Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT Pro during his loan.
In 2024, Nyeman joined Minnesota United FC and started 15 of 17 matches played for MLS NEXT Pro’s MNUFC2. He also made four first team appearances with one start.
Nyeman returned to Loudoun United last season where he scored one goal in 17 appearances and nine starts for the club.
