Derrick Etienne Jr., 26, was signed by Atlanta United as a free agent on Nov. 30, 2022 to a multi-year contract after a breakout 2022 season.Â
In his final year with Columbus Crew, Etienne Jr. recorded career highs in games played (33), games started (25), minutes played (2,221), goals (9) and assists (6). In a match against Chicago Fire on July 9, 2022, Etienne scored two goals off the bench for his first multi-goal game in MLS.
The 2022 season saw Etienne Jr. take another step from a positive 2021 season, when the midfielder set then career highs in starts (21), minutes played (1,849) and assists (five). He started the 2021 Campeones Cup, helping Columbus defeat Cruz Azul 2-0.
In his first season with the Crew, the Haitian international made 22 appearances in the regular season and scored in the 2020 MLS Cup as Columbus defeated Seattle Sounders to win the title.
His first MLS start came at the beginning of 2017 against Colorado Rapids (March 11). He would go on to make 18 appearances for New York that year, collecting two assists. The following season, Etienne Jr. played in 30 games (nine starts) and scored his first MLS goal on March 31, 2018 at Orlando City. He finished the 2018 campaign with five goals and one assist as New York won the Supporters’ Shield. In 2019, the midfielder split time between Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati before signing with Columbus Crew the following offseason.
At the international level, Etienne Jr. has earned 36 caps and scored seven goals with the Haiti National Team since making his debut as a substitute in a Caribbean Cup qualifier against French Guiana on Nov. 9, 2016. Most recently, Etienne Jr. scored two goals and had one assist in a pair of Concacaf Nations League matches against Guyana.
2022 (Columbus): Etienne recorded career highs in games played (33), games started (25), minutes played (2,221), goals (9) and assists (6).Â
2021 (Columbus): Etienne made 29 appearances (21 starts) for Columbus, scoring one goal and recording what was a career-high five assists. Appeared and started in the 2021 Campeones Cup, helping the Crew defeat Cruz Azul. Scored off a corner against Orlando City SC (Oct. 27), converting off a volley at the back post. Logged assists against Toronto FC (May 29), Chicago Fire FC (June 19 and Nov. 7), Orlando (Sept. 4) and CF Montréal (Sept. 25).
2020 (Columbus): Etienne was signed by Crew SC on Feb. 4, 2020 and made 21 regular-season appearances (four starts as a left-midfielder, four as a right-midfielder). He made his Black & Gold debut as a substitute on the road against Seattle Sounders FC (March 7). Etienne also made three regular season appearances during the Group Stage of the MLS is Back Tournament – first as a substitute for Lucas Zelarayan against FC Cincinnati* (July 11), as a starter against the New York Red Bulls* and providing his first assist for the Crew (July 16) and as a substitute against Atlanta United* (July 21). He made a total of four appearances during the MLS is Back Tournament. Etienne Jr. made a start at home against Chicago Fire FC (Aug. 20), where he netted his first regular-season and Crew SC goal in the 20th minute and earned MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors for his performance. He then started on the road at New York City FC (Aug. 24). Etienne Jr. made substitute appearances on the road at FC Cincinnati (Aug. 29) and at home against Philadelphia Union (Sept. 2) and FC Cincinnati (Sept. 6). He then started on the road at Chicago Fire FC (Sept. 12) before making substitute appearances at home against Nashville SC (Sept. 19) and Minnesota United FC (Sept. 23). Etienne Jr. made five consecutive appearances (one start) from Sept. 27 through Oct. 18, where he recorded an assist at home against New York City FC (Oct. 18). He then made four appearances (three starts) from Oct. 24 through the November 8 match at home against Atlanta United. In Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs action, Etienne made two appearances (two starts) at home against the New York Red Bulls (Nov. 21) - providing the game winning assist - and against Seattle Sounders FC (Dec. 12) during MLS Cup 2020, where he scored a goal.
* MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matches counted towards the 2020 MLS regular season
2019 (New York/Cincinnati): Etienne made 11 regular-season appearances (five starts), scoring one goal and providing one assist for the New York Red Bulls. He made two Concacaf Champions League appearances. Etienne was loaned to FC Cincinnati on Aug. 8, where he started two of his five appearances and logged 219 minutes.
2018 (New York): Etienne made 30 regular-season appearances (nine starts), tallying five goals and one assist. He scored his first career MLS regular-season goal against Orlando City SC (March 31). Additionally, he scored the game-winning goal against Orlando City SC (Oct. 20) to clinch the 2018 MLS Supporter’s Shield. The midfielder made two appearances in the MLS playoffs. Etienne made two appearances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as well as five appearances in the Concacaf Champions League.
2017 (New York): Etienne made 17 regular-season appearances (17 starts), scoring two goals and providing two assists. He made his first MLS regular-season start against the Colorado Rapids (March 11). Etienne notched his first MLS regular-season assist against the San Jose Earthquakes (July 19). The midfielder made one appearance in the MLS playoffs against Toronto FC (Nov. 5). Etienne made one appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as two appearances in the Concacaf Champions League.
2016 (New York): Etienne made one regular-season appearance. His MLS regular-season debut came in a match against D.C. United (Sept. 11). The midfielder made two appearances in the Concacaf Champions League, with his debut coming in a match against Antigua GFC (Aug. 3).
2015-2019 (New York Red Bulls II): While with the New York Red Bulls, Etienne also made 52 regular-season appearances and registered 13 goals and five assists for the Club’s USL Championship side the New York Red Bulls II. The midfielder was a key member of the Red Bulls II side that won the USL Regular Season and the USL Cup in 2016.
