The Curious Case of Marko Ilić Getting Loaned

COMMERCE CITY – On Friday, Colorado Rapids confirmed that they have loaned goalkeeper Marko Ilić to Sarpsborg 08 FFin the Eliteserien in Norway, until July 15th. There is no option to buy.

This move comes after Colorado acquired Zack Steffen on a free transfer over the offseason. Adam Beaudry has signed a Homegrown contract as well and is well regarded within the organization. Steffen is going to start every first team game for which he is healthy. Beuadry is a sufficient backup who can then play for Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro.

Ilić had a really uncertain 2023. He joined Colorado on loan with an option to buy while his parent club battled relegation in Belgium. He alluded to not being happy off the field when there. William Yarbrough retained his starting spot for much of the year. The option to buy expired. Colorado negotiated a new deal with reportedly one of the highest transfer fees in club history. He finally knew his future and his family was settled joining him in Denver.

A knee injury for Yarbrough gave the Serbian a chance to be the uncontested starter. He got better over time, but the team still struggled. He had the lowest xG of any MLS goalkeeper in 2023 per American Soccer Analysis. His shot stopping, or lack there of, was the biggest contributor to that.

He’s trying to get back into the Serbian national team. He needs to play in order to work through his weaknesses in goal, maybe to get his confidence back. He joins Sarpsborg right before the start of their season, so he should have time to get settled off the field, making competing easier. He didn’t really get that coming to Colorado. Getting back to Europe probably helps his stock too given the surface level reputation of the Rapids internationally.

It’s hard to see how he becomes the regular starter for Colorado while Steffen is at the club. Even if he does well in Norway, it’s not clear Colorado will be able to break even on selling him back to Europe. If nothing else, this move kicks the can down the road and makes an amicable ending more plausible.

This is another deal by this Rapids front office that seems to be an overspend that might take multiple years to move on from.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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