Update: Colorado Rapids announced this trade as official on Tuesday morning. This article has been updated to reflect the details of the press release.
COMMERCE CITY – This is the most MLS trade ever. As first reported by Tom Bogert of GiveMeSports, Colorado Rapids have acquired eight Philadelphia Union draft picks for $350,000 in General Allocation Money. Sources have confirmed these details and more to Burgundy Wave as of Monday afternoon.
Colorado has acquired all of Philly’s picks for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 MLS SuperDraft. This includes the 8th overall pick in the upcoming 2025 draft. Total, that is a 1st and 3rd rounder in 2025, and a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounder in both 2026 and 2027. Colorado already acquired Philly’s 2nd round pick this year in the Oliver Semmle trade.
Sources confirmed to BW that there are $250,000 in player performance add ons. Colorado could end up paying $600K GAM total for this trade. The guaranteed GAM is broken up as $125,000 for 2025, $125,000 for 2026, and $100,000 for 2027.
The Rapids value the draft as much if not more than any MLS team. The Union are at the other end of the spectrum. This is not the first time Philly is going into a SuperDraft having traded all their picks away. They like their model and their academy.
Colorado getting a top 10 pick is big as they now have three first round picks this year. This includes their natural 1st rounder at #16 and LAFC’s natural pick at #26. That was acquired in the Ralph Priso trade with Vancouver Whitecaps. That Mark-Anthony Kaye trade from 2022 is still paying dividends.
Market value wise, a top first round pick is probably worth $100K on its own. Philly could be headed for a rebuild next year, having missed the playoffs and parting ways with Jim Curtin. If the Union miss the playoffs next year, Colorado gets another top pick in 2026’s first round. That would make this trade worth the $350K.
If Colorado gets two top 10 picks leading to a top senior or Generation Adidas player and one diamond in the rough, like 4th round pick Dom Badji in 2015, and this is great value. Good and creative business by the Rapids FO. Good Rapids Math by Pádraig Smith.
Turn those eight picks into two or three guys who make a the match day squad regularly in MLS and they’ll make their money back. If they find a Moïse Bombito, Rookie of the Year Andre Shinyashiki, or a couple late rounders who turn into MLS contributors, this move is a steal. This trade has huge upside for a club that’s done good and value-driven work on draft day.
Don’t be surprised if most of these guys are with Rapids 2 to start their tenure with the club. Sources tell BW that last year’s draft pick Anderson Rosa intends to join the first team for preseason. USF forward Gunnar Studenhofft is expected to be with Rapids 2 in 2025. The rest of the picks from last year should remain in school. With Sam Bassett’s Denver Pioneers making the Final Four, I would be shocked if the Rapids don’t offer him a Homegrown contract.
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