Scouting Prince Forfor: Columbus Crew’s MLS NEXT All-Star MVP modeling his game after Alphonso Davies and Max Arfsten

The Columbus Crew are a standard bearer within MLS - they're an organization that continues to produce results, players, and silverware.

Legendary figures across the MLS and American soccer scene found their footing within the club, from Chad Marshall and Frankie Hedjuk to Brian McBride, Darlington Nagbe, and Cucho Hernandez. In the modern MLS era, they've been a club that has shown itself to be a launchpad for domestic players to the national team as well.

Goalkeepers Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen, midfielders Wil Trapp and Aidan Morris, and defender Max Arfsten have all propelled their international careers within the MLS club.

Now, Forfor is looking to do the same.

He joined the Crew's ranks as a youth baller and has worked his way up through the system, playing with the U16s and U18s, before moving into their MLS NEXT Pro setup this season. 

"The Crew, there's a very clear pathway that we see every day, especially with our Homegrown, like our very young Homegrowns, players getting signed, like Tristan Brown, who came from the Academy," Forfor said. "So, I mean, it's a very clear pathway."

He's earned rave reviews along his way through it all, but 2025 has been the real breakout.

Forfor's big moment came in July, though, when he was informed of his MLS NEXT All-Star selection. All of the hard work, patience, and dedication to the game paid off - though he, himself, didn't expect the call to come. 

"I mean, that was, that was a very big moment," he explained. "I think that for me, that was one of my goals coming into the season, something I saw the other players did last year, and I thought was a very cool experience. So it was something, I would say, I was kind of surprised. But, I mean, I was, I was very happy to get the call-up."

Everything proceeded to go to plan, too. In fact, it was a picture-perfect evening, capped off by Forfor being handed the MLS NEXT All-Star MVP award after helping lead the Eastern Conference to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the West. Forfor himself managed to get onto the scoresheet, scoring the fourth goal of the match for the East. 

"I mean, it was, it was such a great atmosphere in Texas that night," he said. "It was a lot of people in attendance, you know, a lot of people watching you under the lights, you know, stuff you dream of as a kid, you know. So it was a very great experience.

"I think it kind of, kind of caps off my season on a very good note, because it's something I didn't go into the game, I didn't imagine it, or, like I had zero idea, or even consider that I could win it. So, after the game, when it happened, I was very, very proud. Yeah, it was a very great moment."

Forfor's biggest asset is his versatility. He grew up as a forward, but has transitioned to left back, which sees him combine the qualities of both positions into and attacking-minded fullback. 

In the MLS NEXT All-Star Game this year, his superb goal came from a rising run on the left side of the pitch that saw him instinctually capture a rebound. He appeared in seconds, following the balls trajectory before smashing it into the back of the net. 

"I think every game I go into I think I try to focus on my first action with the ball, so maybe connecting my first pass and then building off that," he said. "So I think after I connected my first pass, I was able to settle in and then calm myself down and just let the game flow. I mean, when you're playing with talented players around the league, it is easy, you know?"

His speed and agility are, by all means, an asset - but his intelligence in that moment to make the crashing run is a sign of situational awareness that isn't always present at youth levels.

For the Crew, he brings a unique presence to the left back position and is becoming a must-watch prospect as a result.

Forfor knows he's not a finished product yet. He has a lot to learn, and it's still in the early days of establishing himself within the Crew's ranks and earning his spot, regularly, on their MLS NEXT Pro roster. Still, though, he has lofty goals.

"I would say, for me, I'll just try to stay with them [Crew 2] as long as possible. I've earned a couple of roster spots. I was able to play a couple of games with them," he said. "So I would say, just keep going with that and try to air myself more minutes and, yeah, break through with the team."

Versatility can also be a weakness, as attacking-minded defenders may be caught out of position or favor one side of the pitch. Fortunately, Forfor has a role model within the Crew system in Arfsten, and an idol on the world stage he can model his game after in Davies. 

Forfor is already following a similar path to the Bayern star, playing as a winger across the academy, but internationally with the U.S. youth national teams, has been called in as a left back - a position he's slowly starting to garner a taste for.

"Alphonso Davies, man, he’s a very good player, I'll say, very similar profile. So, I watch him a lot," he said. "He started in MLS, started as a winger. I started also as a winger, too, I would say. He made the transition at Bayern as a left back, and I think I mean with the national team, I've been called in as a left back. So I think that's also a very similar aspect. I think also, just as a player, we have a very similar profile. He is very quick. Even at Bayern, he is a left back, but he’s an attacking-minded left back. So I think we have that in common as well."

The similarities are visible, too.

And ForFor has already learned some valuable lessons from first-team teammate Arfsten. 

"He's a baller, same position, so it's good to especially, me coming from the Academy, it’s good to look up to a player from the first team. He's a great example," he said. "When we were at the All-Star event, we were able to get some photos and just talk. And I think it was a great conversation. Definitely."

Upon return from the ASG in July, Forfor was promoted to training with Crew 2, and he has lofty goals to remain there through the end of the season as he works to establish himself within the program.

Ultimately, though, the goal is to earn postseason soccer with Crew 2 this fall and be a part of that moment. In 2022, the inaugural year of MNP, Crew 2 were crowned champions, and now they're looking to return to the podium this season. 

"It would mean a lot," he explained. "I think a lot of a lot of players from the Academy, we all come in with the goal or dream of wanting to push up to the second team and into the first so I think be able to be a part of that would be very great, because, you know, that's the next level, and that's where we all want to be at." 

Regardless, Forfor will be watching and waiting for his opportunity - whenever that comes. The one thing he has on his side is time, and once his time comes, he'll look to make sure he takes advantage of the moment.