Sun. Dec 22nd, 2024
Dantouma Toure
Photo Credit: Colorado Rapids.

Colorado Rapids have waived forward Dantouma Toure, the club announced yesterday.

As first reported by Brendan Ploen of the Denver Post, “it is related to a personal matter.”

Toure, nicknamed “Yaya,” is 18-years-old. The club acquired him as a Homegrown player in March 2021 from the New York Red Bulls. He spent most of 2021 on loan with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. In 2022, he and Darren Yapi were good for a bad Rapids 2 side in MLS NEXT Pro.

On August 13, Toure was injured in a game against Columbus Crew, tearing his ACL. He’s still rehabbing from that injury. He did not play in any games in 2023 and was mostly away from the team for his recovery work.

“We gave Yaya some leave of absence or time away from the club during his rehab process to deal with some personal stuff. We’ve been in communication with his representation, the League, the (Players’) Union. We’ve been in touch with everybody. It was the best pathway forward for Yaya and puts him in the best position,” Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith added.

The initial reaction to this news might have one thinking this was injury related. Toure’s injury last year was his second time tearing his ACL on that knee and he’s still a teenager.

The injury may be the origin point of Toure being waived, but it could have started or contributed to the leave of absence or the personal matter(s) that made him getting out of his contract make sense.

This has happened before at the club. Will Vint was signed as a Homegrown in early 2020. He was not a part of the preseason roster in 2021 due to personal reasons. Vint’s team option was declined at the end of that season. He was picked up March 2022 by USL Championship side Charlotte Independence.

Dantouma Toure getting waived appears to be a mutually beneficial parting of ways. It could be what’s best for his life, rehab, and returning to the field. For the club, it opens up a roster spot that could be filled in the summer or by a first team signing from within.

Photo Credit: Colorado Rapids.

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