2025 Colorado Rapids Player Salaries

Bethesda, MD – Better late than never. On Wednesday, the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) released the preliminary 2025 Colorado Rapids player salaries. See the full list for all MLS players here. Let’s break it down:

Right now, Colorado’s total guaranteed compensation is 22nd out of 30 teams at $15,482,311. But it’s more complicated than that as most Rapids fans should know.

I’ll start with the biggest but oldest detail. LA Galaxy are still paying roughly half of Kévin Cabral’s team-high $2.1 million salary. Because his salary is so high, he is a Designated Player. Colorado retains that DP slot. Cabral is in the final year of a 5-year deal. He’s yet to get a goal contribution this season. I would imagine this is his last year in MLS.

Colorado’s next highest earners of course are Djodje Mihailović and Rafael Navarro at $1.8 million and $1.5 million. The Rapids are playing a combined $2.8 million for their starting center backs. Chido Awaziem and Andreas Maxsø are up slightly from their 2024 numbers. Chido’s contract was originally with FC Cincinnati.

Other new Rapids additions are on reasonable numbers given expectations. Ted Ku-DiPietro is on $456,000 on his U22 contract that he signed with D.C. United last year. Ian Murphy at $447,000 is good center back hamstring insurance. Josh Atencio is good value at $350,000.

A bunch of the young kids who are back from last year got slight raises. It is interesting there’s a gap in player salaries between Atencio at $350,000 and loaned Michael Edwards at $160,000. That gap pretty much divides the draft picks/Homegrowns who haven’t gotten that “I’m a starter, pay me to keep me” extension and those still on their “I’ve got potential” contract. Nico Hansen has been fantastic value on his league minimum contract.

It’s worth reminding you that this is the compensation is the what the players get through the league, not necessarily what the Rapids are paying them. Edwards (Charleston Battery), Bryce Jamison (Orange County SC), and Nate Jones (Las Vegas Lights) are all on loan to the USL Championship. There’s a chance those clubs are picking up a portion of their pay. That might help a little.

So what does this mean? The Rapids are still bottom ten in net spend in the league. They have a bunch of young kids making almost no money. Some of them will come good under their current contracts and will be great value.

The Rapids do have a few bad contracts that might be tough to get out of. Maxsø probably isn’t worth $1.4 million. He has a club option for 2026. There’s been rumblings Colorado might be getting a center back and Maxsø has had interest in the Middle East.

Sam Vines making the most of the “USMNT fringe guys who came back from Europe” is rough. $912,500 and he’s backed up Jackson Travis at times. He has not been good since returning from Royal Antwerp. Would I be actively shopping him? Not without securing another left back. Would I listen to offers? Yes. Especially if a team that plays with wingbacks is interested.

Cabral is still the worst contract be a lot. Even with Colorado paying him just ~$1 million.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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