Houston Dynamo Re-Acquire Aliyu Ibrahim from Columbus Crew

Dynamo pay up to $750K in allocation money to bring back Nigerian forward

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:19pm

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The Houston Dynamo FC have acquired 24-year-old forward Aliyu Ibrahim from the Columbus Crew in exchange for $250,000 in guaranteed General Allocation Money (GAM), with the potential for an additional $500,000 based on performance metrics. Ibrahim previously played for the Dynamo from 2023 to 2025 before joining Columbus last year.

Why it matters

This move allows the Dynamo to bring back a familiar player who can contribute depth and experience to their wingback group, as they look to bolster their roster ahead of the upcoming season. The performance-based incentives suggest Columbus believes Ibrahim still has untapped potential.

The details

In the trade, the Dynamo will pay Columbus $250,000 in guaranteed GAM, with an additional $500,000 possible based on Ibrahim's on-field performance. Ibrahim originally joined the Dynamo in 2023 from Croatian side NK Lokomotiva, before being traded to the Crew in 2025 for a deal worth up to $1.2 million. During his time in Columbus, Ibrahim recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in 28 games across all competitions.

  • Ibrahim joined the Houston Dynamo in April 2023.
  • Ibrahim was traded to the Columbus Crew in April 2025.
  • The Dynamo re-acquired Ibrahim from the Crew on March 12, 2026.

The players

Aliyu Ibrahim

A 24-year-old Nigerian forward who previously played for the Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew.

Pat Onstad

The President of Soccer for the Houston Dynamo FC.

Columbus Crew

The Major League Soccer club that traded Aliyu Ibrahim to the Houston Dynamo.

Houston Dynamo FC

The Major League Soccer club that re-acquired Aliyu Ibrahim from the Columbus Crew.

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What they’re saying

“We are pleased to welcome Aliyu Ibrahim back to Houston, where he played an important role during two successful seasons with our club.”

— Pat Onstad, President of Soccer, Houston Dynamo FC (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

Ibrahim could potentially return to action for the Dynamo on Saturday when Houston hosts the Portland Timbers at 8:30 pm ET on Apple TV.

The takeaway

This trade represents a strategic move by the Houston Dynamo to bring back a familiar player who can contribute depth and experience to their roster, as they look to build on past success and compete in the upcoming MLS season.