Mon. Apr 14th, 2025
Nicolas Hansen
Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

Commerce City – The Colorado Rapids finally have a third goalkeeper on their first team roster. Friday morning, the club announced Rapids 2 keeper Nicolas Hansen. The contract is a one-year deal for 2025 with club options for 2026 and 2027.

Hansen had previously been called-up a few times with Zack Steffen and Adam Beaudry unavailable. now the Rapids have straight up made him the Rapids third goalkeeper. It’s not have this clarity given the Burgundy Boys where thin at that position. There were some rumblings that Colorado was going to get a veteran with MLS experience, a Clint Irwin type, but that did not materialize.

Hansen made his MLS NEXT Pro debut in a 2-2 draw at Real Monarchs. The 23-year-old Florida native spent time in the youth setups at Everton and Swansea. He played for Atherton Collieries A.F.C. in the lower divisions in England for two years, making 52 appearances. You will be interested to know he’s a Danish International. He’s appeared three times for the Denmark U-19s.

From what Burgundy Wave has seen in training, he’s not miles off. He’ll be a training keeper and fill in on the bench. For what’s probably an MLS minimum contract, it’s some good peace of mind. Hopefully Beaudry’s ankle is ok.

Hansen’s three short term call-ups were the Portland, Charlotte, and Vancouver games. He was with the team through preseason in both Mexico and Florida. Rapids Goalkeeper Coach Chris Sharpe has had plenty of time to evaluate him. If he thinks he can do a job as one of the three Rapids third team goalkeepers, then I trust him.

Colorado could have an interesting situation come the offseason next year. Zackory Campagnolo is on a two-year NEXT Pro deal with a pre contract for 2027. Should Colorado pick up Hansen’s options, they might start the offseason with four goalkeepers on paper. There’s no MLS rule saying you can’t have a fourth goalkeeper. But that’s not something you’d want to do as part of a roster build.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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