Colorado Rapids acquire defender Aboubacar Keita from Columbus Crew

The Colorado Rapids shored up their defence Wednesday with the announced signing of cardinal defender Aboubacar Keita from the Columbus Crew.

As portion of the presumption of the deal, the Rapids sent $300,000 successful General Allocation Money to Columbus successful speech for Keita, and the full woody could summation by different $150,000 successful GAM if definite show marks are hit.

Keita, 21, made 16 appearances for the Crew and started 10 games past season. He is simply a left-footed halfway backmost who volition vie for playing clip alongside a sturdy backmost line.

As portion of the deal, the Rapids inherit Keita’s contract, which runs done 2022, with a nine enactment for 2023. He signed with the Crew connected a Homegrown Player declaration successful 2019 aft helium played 1 play astatine the University of Virginia. He has logged a full of 2,695 minutes successful 37 appearances during his four-year career. He besides made an quality successful past year’s Campeones Cup last successful a 2-0 triumph implicit Liga MX broadside Cruz Azul.

“Bouba is simply a young, diversion subordinate who is comfy connected the shot and has each the attributes to go a physically ascendant defender,” Colorado Rapids wide manager Pádraig Smith said successful a nine statement. “We are committed to targeting the champion young players successful the home market, and successful Keita, we judge we person acquired a subordinate with important upside who is lone opening to scratch the aboveground of his potential.”

Keita has represented the United States astatine the Under-20 level and made 5 starts astatine the 2019 Under-20 FIFA World Cup for the USYNT.

It is the Rapids’ 2nd authoritative transaction of the 2021/2022 transportation window. They sent $75,000 successful GAM to Toronto FC to get the No. 2 spot successful the Re-Entry draft, wherever they acquired the rights to Honduran planetary and midfielder Bryan Acosta from FC Dallas.