The Colorado Rapids have strengthened their defensive ranks with the signing of Aboubacar Keita from the Columbus Crew.
Colorado can pay an preliminary $300k in Basic Allocation Cash (GAM) for Keita’s providers, with the Crew receiving an additional $150k GAM ought to the center-back meet sure efficiency standards through the 2022 MLS season.
“Bouba is a younger, athletic participant who’s snug on the ball and has all of the attributes to develop into a bodily dominant defender,” Colorado Rapids govt vp and basic supervisor Pádraig Smith stated in an official membership press launch.
“We’re dedicated to concentrating on the very best younger gamers within the home market, and in Keita, we imagine we now have acquired a participant with important upside who is barely starting to scratch the floor of his potential.”
Born in New York, Keita is the product of the Columbus Crew academy, signing a homegrown cope with the Ohio membership in 2019. The 21-year-old has 42 senior appearances for Columbus beneath his belt, together with 12 in 2020 because the Crew gained MLS Cup. Keita has been capped eight occasions for the USA at U-20 stage.
“From the time he joined the Academy in 2016 to serving to us seize MLS Cup in 2020 and the Campeones Cup final September, Bouba’s laborious work and dedication on and off the sector has been really appreciated. We want him all the very best in Colorado,” stated Crew president and basic supervisor Tim Bezbatchenko.
Keita will be a part of Lalas Abubakar, Danny Wilson, and Auston Trusty on one of many strongest center-back line-ups in MLS proper now.
Throughout the 2021 season, the Rapids conceded simply 35 objectives within the common season as they completed prime of the Western Convention – solely the Seattle Sounders, New York Pink Bulls, and Nashville SC allowed fewer (all 33).
Colorado start their 2022 marketing campaign away at Los Angeles FC on February 26.
