2024 Colorado Rapids Player Salaries

BETHESDA, Md. – It’s one of my favorite MLS holidays of the year. Player salary release day. The MLS Players Association announced the 2024 spring player salaries today. Find the whole list here. Spoiler, Messi’s making over $20 million, more than the entire Rapids squad. With that, here’s the fill break down of the 2024 Colorado Rapids player salaries:

Let’s start with some basic takeaways. The total salary compensation for Rapids players is just over $16.3 million, up from last fall’s $14.5 million.

It’s worth noting this is the amount these players are getting paid by the single entity that is MLS. These numbers don’t necessarily reflect the total spend by the Rapids. This information also does not include transfer fees. While the Rapids are mid table in player salaries based on this information, the reality is between out of pocket wages and transfer fees, this is still a bottom five spending club in MLS.

Kévin Cabral is the top earner on the team, making almost $2 million. He is the 43rd highest paid player in the league. Remember as part of the trade from LA Galaxy, they’re picking up about half of his contract. So the Rapids are only on the hook for about $1 million. Djordje Mihailovic, Rafael Navarro, and Andreas Maxsø round out the top four making over a million.

Let’s look at some of the players with asterisks next to their name. Just like with Cabral, these numbers aren’t necessarily what the Rapids are paying directly. Rémi Cabral is on loan at Phoenix Rising. Aboubacar Keita is at Bohemian FC in Ireland. Marko Ilic is starting for Sarpsborg 08 FF in Norway. Miguel Navarro is in Argentina with Talleres. The loan clubs are surely picking up some of that salary, possibly all in the case of Cabral.

There are a few players on this list who are no longer with the team. Sidnei Tavares is back with FC Porto B after being waived back in February. Sam Nicholson and Danny Wilson were waived in January. Tavares and Nicholson are on here but Wilson and the bought out Alex Gersbach.

There could have been contractual conditions of how Wilson was waived and moved to a new club that does not have him on the list. Burgundy Wave can confirm the club has some dead cap space for Tavares and Nicholson but does not for Wilson. Hence, their inclusion on that list. The salaries listed does not necessary reflect the amount of that dead cap money. MLS is confusing, Rapids Math sunk cost fallacy and all.

Third goalkeeper Ethan Bandré signed a deal a few weeks ago with Adam Beaudry getting a training stint with Arsenal. He’s omission from this list is likely a clerical error. Burgundy Wave can confirm Bandré is on a senior minimum contract.

Elsewhere, Rafael Navarro and Lamine Diack are with the Rapids on loan through the summer. Their salaries are prorated for the year. So if the club picks up the option on them, don’t expect their salaries to double when the MLSPA announces compensation in the fall. The Rapids are paying Navarro $2.8 million this year if he’s made permanent for the summer. Diack being on TAM and making more than Bassett or Vines when he can’t get off the bench is wild. Bassett should probably talk to his agent given he’s on less than Vines as well and might be the best player on the team so far this year.

Zack Steffen is the fourth highest paid goalkeeper in the league, behind Roman Bürki (STL), Pedro Gallese (ORL), and Andre Blake (PHI). Most European leagues don’t publicly release salary information like MLS does, but there’s some outlets saying Steffen was on $2.4 million at Manchester City. In any case, Colorado getting him on TAM and a free transfer was great. If he’s in the Goalkeeper of the Year conversation, good value at $900K.

Omir Fernandez and Jasper Löffelsend are on new deals. Fernandez made his $173K last year with RBNY and is now making more than 3.5 times that at $636K. It’s a bit more than I thought his free market value was in MLS. Löffelsend signed an extension just last month. He goes from $96K to $256K. That’s a big bump for him but not a big deal by MLS budget standards. I remember in 2016 when it was an issue if a guy making $300K wasn’t a starter for their team.

Lalas Abubakar is still on his big salary increase from last year that has him making over $700K. For a bench center back, that’s a lot of money. If we’re looking for other bad contracts, Jonathan Lewis at $435K given his age, injury history, and lack of production last year is not great. Lewis is out of contract this year. Abubakar has a team option for 2025. So they do have an out.

Lastly, the young cheep kids at the bottom of the roster have value. Moïse Bombito, Calvin Harris, and Oli Larraz are regular starters. All are making around $100K. Absolute steals, especially Bombito, who’s on the second year of his SuperDraft contract.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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