This article was last updated Friday August 22, 2025.
Commerce City, CO – It’s silly season across the football world. Burgundy Wave has compiled a Colorado Rapids transfer tracker to help keep Pids supporters stay up to date all in one place. The MLS Secondary Transfer Window is from Thursday July 24 through Thursday August 21.
Paxten Aaronson breaks club transfer fee record to replace Mihailović:
The final week of the window has been wild for the Rapids. Multiple outlets reported Colorado were in discussions to sign former Philadelphia Union attacking midfielder Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt. There have been lots of reports that the transfer fee is $7 million with $1.5 million in add ons. Jonathan Tannenwald from the Philadelphia Inquirer has reported its €7 million and €1.5 million in incentives. They’re close, neither is correct to our understanding. Aaronson has now officially signed a DP contract through 2030.
This move is an incredible get. Aaronson the Younger was a pressing monster for Philly and a dynamic attacker in transition on loan at FC Utrecht. That was mostly as a box-to-box 8 rather than a pressing 10. There’s an argument he’s a better player today than Mihialović was January of last year. He’s a slightly better fit for the Chris Armas game model given his defensive work rate. He won’t put up set piece high light reals though.
Colorado clearly invested all the Mihailović. They uncharacteristically spent it all on a like-for-like replacement. So ambitious and aggressive. This was probably a bit of an overpay. But you got a guy who could have stayed in Europe who’s on the outskirts of the national team. Colorado’s FO sold Aaronson on the vision Mihailović wanted to leave. They did this in less than two weeks. Well done given the circumstances.
Read more about what this move means and says about the Rapids, this season, and the USMNT here. Burgundy Wave will follow up once Aaronson has had media availability.
Rumor ranking: Done. Shocked and impressed.
Djordje Mihailović Forces Trade to Toronto FC:
Colorado Rapids have officially sold Djordje Mihailović, their best player, for $8 million to Toronto FC. Read the whole break down here. There are up to $1 million in incentives and a sell on clause. This news rocked the Rapids Community Monday August 4. Mihailović asked to leave. TFC is working on giving him a pay raise that Colorado wasn’t likely to match. TFC General Manager Jason Hernandez said in the introductory press conference, they started making this move 4-6 weeks ago, prior to the window opening. This move could tank the Rapids season depending on how quickly and well the funds are reinvested. Public statements from the players and Rapids leadership make it seem like it was very much about the money and winning.
Yes, they sold at top dollar. The Front Office should be given time to sign more diamonds in the rough. The club has since clearly spent all the money on one player. They went big. Will Pádraig Smith’s other signings this window work out given he doesn’t have a great track record with players with no prior MLS experience? This will determine the fate of the club in 2025 and 2026.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Sad face.
Left Back Option: Rafael Santos signs from Orlando City
I had a feeling Colorado wanted some fullback depth. The final Friday of the transfer window saw Colorado acquire Orlando city left back Rafael Santos for $125K in 2025 GAM, with incentives up to $200K in 2026 GAM. Santos had been a starter for the Lions but had fallen out of favor with Oscar Pareja this year. He’s got a club option for 2026. Very attacking player. He’s Brazilian, so he could link up well with Rafael Navarro. He does have his green card, so no international slot used.
If Orlando was willing otherwise let him go for $125K, is he that good? Worst case scenario, he’s Sam Vines hamstring insurance and pushes Vines to be better. This gives Armas more flexibility to play the 3-4-3 with proper wing backs. That will suit both Vines and Santos. If this pushes Jackson Travis out of the match day squad, they are short on time find him a loan move to the USL.
It is really annoying that Colorado now has multiple players named Rafa, Sam, Bassett, and Harris.
Rumor Ranking: Done.
Almost More Bad News: Rafael Navarro Not Sold
Things got worse on Djordje Mihailović Day (DM Day) +2. André Hernan is reporting that Fluminense are pursuing Rapids striker Rafael Navarro. Colorado’s rejected three bids with the highest being north of $7 million. The club doesn’t want to sell and is looking to make additions in the aftermath of Cabral and Mihailović leaving.
Then on the final day of the MLS window, a rumor out of Mexico circulated that CF Monterrey were in for Navarro, awaiting personal terms with the player. Sources tell Burgundy Wave those reports are not legitimate. Rafael Navarro was not for sale and is happy to remain in Colorado this season. There was no offer from Monterrey.
Remember that SE Palmeiras have a 20% sell on clause. Colorado reportedly paid a $3.5 million transfer fee and there was a $500,000 loan fee. So with Mihailović, they’re set to sell him for more than double what they paid and keep all that money. Selling Navarro at $7 mill, they’re only making $2.4 million in net profit. That’s still good Rapids Math but the sticker shock is much less than Djordje. If $8 million for Djordje is an over pay, so is $7 million for Rafa.
Smith said in a press conference that “we are not looking to sell Rafa.” He sees the club’s decision to turn down the previous bids as a statement of intent.
After scoring a brace against Atlanta on August 16, Navarro said through a translator, “It’s hard not to listen to the rumors. I do listen to them. I am happy here at Colorado. It’s something for the agent and club to decide. I’m focused here. It’s only going to happen if it’s good for all parties.”
Navarro is a known and valued player for the club. He’s one of the best pressing forwards in the league. But with Mihailović gone, his productive service is reduced. There will be games where he gets less help. That said, in one Leagues Cup match and two MLS matches before the end of the window, he has three goals, one assist, one PK draw. Doubling your money on your two biggest signings a year later is incredibly good business. But that doesn’t win MLS Cup. And it’s hard to replace a DP striker towards the end of the window.
Fluminense moved on. The Monterrey rumor was bunk. Expect that Navarro stay and ball out with Aaronson. If someone wants him for $8 million in the winter, we can revisit this.
Rumor Ranking: Cold as Snow Clasico. Not happening.
Another Winger: Interest in Club America’s Javairo Dilrosun?
Soy Fútbol is reporting the Rapids could be interested in left winger Javairo Dilrosun. He’s 27-years-old and Dutch. Was in the Ajax and Manchester City academy. He’s been mostly a bench option for Club America the last few years.
He was on loan to LAFC for two months just recently. LAFC declined the purchase option. He scored two goals in six games, one against the Rapids. So the Rapids scouts have seen how he plays in MLS. He looked good, surrounded by amazing players. Transfermarkt says he’s worth $3 million. Club America payed about $5 million. Central and South American outlets have a lot of noise this time of year. We’ll see.
He was possibly one of the four offers Colorado had out the final weekend of the transfer window. With Manyoma signed, this wasn’t a priority. He probably isn’t worth the $3 million given everything else Colorado did this summer.
Rumor Ranking: Gone cold. Like your leftover Mexican takeout.
Colombian U-22 Winger Alexis Manyoma Confirmed:
César Luis Merlo first reported that Colorado Rapids were interested in Colombian winger Alexis Manyoma. The move is now official. He’s a 22-year-old. He was mostly recently a sub in the Apertura for Estudiantes. He’s played mostly left wing, but also right and left midfield. All competitions 15 appearances, 498 appearances, no goal contributions. Not great. Maybe the Rapids analytics see something in him beyond the surface level stats.
With Mihailović gone, he is a U-22 signing. Transfermarkt has his value at $1.75 million for what that’s worth. It’s dropped due to his recent form. He is caped for Columbia at the U-20 level. Several mid outlets in South America are reporting it as done. These types of sites/accounts have been right before but no one very credible on either side of the Equator has confirmed it as of Wednesday evening.
The deal is a loan through July 21, 2026. There’s a loan fee and an option to buy. Sources tell Burgundy Wave the loan fee is around $500,000 and the purchase option is around $2.3 million. Both are believed to be good value for how Colorado rates the player. They can afford it now that the Mihailović check has cleared.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Hopefully he’s better than Cabral.
Australian Center Back Lucas Herrington:
Credit to Judgmental Jim for picking this one out. Back in April and May, there were rumblings out of Australia that clubs were interested in Lucas Herrington. That move The 18-year-old turned pro last year with Brisbane Roar FC in the A-League. He’s reportedly been lighting it up with the Australian U-20s. Bogert reported in May that the deal was done and it’s a pre contract for him to join the Rapids in January. SoccerwiseHQ even suggested another club might come in for him in January and Colorado could sell him for a profit before he even shows up for preseason.
We don’t have a fee reported on this just yet. Would guess $1 million or less. Sources told Burgundy Wave Herrington was in market during Phase I of Leagues Cup.
Rumor Ranking: Done. See you in January.
Crystal Palace Center Back Rob Holding:
Burgundy Wave can confirm Colorado Rapids have signed Rob Holding, center back from Crystal Palace. This is a free transfer and an 18-month contract. Mike McGrath from The Daily Telegraph was the first to report the deal was done earlier in the week. Sources tell Burgundy Wave no TAM was used. With Kévin Cabral still unsigned at the timing of this move, Holding cannot be a DP. It’s likely he’s no more than a max budget player, maybe a bit of GAM over. That’s cheaper than Awaziem’s $1.4 million salary.
Holding will turn 30 in September. He was with Arsenal from 2016-23, playing 162 times. However, in the last two seasons, he’s made just one start for the Palace first team, an EFL Cup match. He’s played seven times for the second team. He does have an injury history. Torn ACL when he was at Arsenal. He was hurt much of last year after ankle surgery. He and Oliver Glasner had a falling out.
That said, he went on loan in January to Sheffield United. Played in 11 matches. Came off the bench in one of the three promotion playoff games they were in. Blades were interested in bringing him back. Maybe there’s some KSE knowledge sharing given his time at Arsenal and this is a diamond in the rough like Jack Price. He’s likely cheaper than Chido and hopefully doesn’t make bad passes like Chido did at times. The plan is for him to bridge the gap to the younger defenders at the club. Other than the injury history, this seems low risk.
His partner Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir just signed with Angel City in the NWSL. She previously was playing with VfL Wolfsburg. Denver to LA is about the same flight time as London to Wolfsburg. That likely tipped things in Colorado’s favor.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Can’t wait to see Rob Holding Holding The High Line.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes loaned to Lexington SC then hurt:
Wednesday July 30, Colorado Rapids confirmed Kimani Stewart-Baynes will go on loan to Lexington SC in the USL Championship. The loan is through the rest of 2025 with an option to recall at anytime. Lexington are just outside the playoffs in the USLC. KSB is now the fourth player with MLS NEXT Pro experience they’ve brought on loan. KSB is now one of four Rapids players to go on loan to the USLC. Bryce Jamison is with Orange County. Nate Jones is in Las Vegas. Adam Beaudry recently went to Switchbacks. Mike Edwards is back in Colorado rehabbing a calf injury sustained with Charleston Battery.
This was a good move for KSB. For all the calls for him to get more first team opportunities, he played 28 minutes this MLS season. The coaching staff doesn’t rate him above Sam Bassett, Calvin Harris, etc. right now. He’s overqualified for Rapids 2 right now.
Once source said his confidence was down earlier this year though the player told BW his confidence was fine and it was more about consistent training performances.
On August 20, Colorado confirmed KSB suffered an ankle injury and would be out for the rest of the season. He was recalled from the loan to rehab back in Colorado.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Then undone. Get well KSB.
Center Back Noah Cobb on Loan From Atlanta:
Colorado Rapids have acquired Atlanta United and USMNT youth international Noah Cobb. It is a loan through the end of the season. There is a loan fee of $100K in 2025 GAM. There is an option to buy. Sources tell Burgundy Wave the purchase options is around $500K in 2026 GAM. The club thinks Cobb can grow into being worth that valuation in the months to come.
Cobb is a good insurance acquisition at a position of need. It’s a flyer on a kid they might want to sign for next year and give an opportunity too. As written here, he’s very good in possession and decent in the air. That’s a Pádraig Smith center back. Depending on Rob Holding, et al, Colorado could be ok at center half despite having to part ways with Chido.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Cautiously optimistic pending Rob Holding getting acclimated.
Center Back Chido Awaziem to Nantes Official:
L’Equipe first reported that Chidozie Awaziem could leave Colorado Rapids for FC Nantes in France, Lamine Diack’s former team. Colorado had 10 days off between machetes at Seattle and Philadelphia. Chris Armas said after the Seattle game that the move was a distinct possibility. This move happened during that break with Awaziem traveling to France for a medical. The deal was official on the morning of July 23.
This rumor came as a surprise to Rapids fans given the Stav Lemkin and Andreas Maxsø rumors. Awaziem played with Nantes in 2017-18 while on loan from FC Porto. The 28-year-old did miss the May 24 game vs St. Louis “not due to injury” per the availability report. When asked about it during Rapids mixed zone the following month, said he was having health issues. If you look at his Instagram, most posts are football related. But when he has posted personal stuff, it’s generally been during off time (offseason, international break, bye week, etc.). His family had not joined him full-time in the United States, which was the biggest reason for the move.
May was around the time we started seeing those bad passes right to an opponent a few times a game. There’s also a possibility Awaziem wasn’t conformable in the league after the inappropriate language incident against LAFC that did not go Colorado’s way.
Speculation aside, I see why Awaziem left and not Maxsø who is now likely to stay this summer. Chido’s three years younger. He’s better. His resale value back to Europe is probably higher. Transferring him out and getting a U-22 center back with zero net spend makes sense. Does Pádraig Smith think he can find a better younger center back who’s not on anyone else’s radar? Probably.
Sources told Burgundy Wave the fee being discussed is in excess of $1 million with a sell on clause, likely around $1.5 million. Sacha Tavolieri later reported that the feel was around €1.5 million ($1.758 million). Colorado acquired Chido and Ian Murphy from FC Cincinnati for $1 million in GAM with a sell on clause on both players. Those deals within MLS are typically 15-20%. There were $200K GAM incentives. It’s unlikely Chido triggered any of those performance metrics in six months if they were appearances, starts, clean sheets, playoff conditions, etc.
If those numbers are true, Colorado made a profit on the player even with the sell on clause. If it’s $1.7 million, that’s great Rapids Math: $1.4 million after a 20% sell on clause to Cincy with $1 million of that likely converted back into GAM. Bank the $400K for reinvestment. We saw last year the defense wasn’t great after Moïse Bombito was sold. Hopefully one of Noah Cobb or Rob Holding can do better than Lalas Abubakar did late last year.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Be well Chido. Allons-y.
Designated Player Kévin Cabral Waived:
The club waived DP winger Kévin Cabral the Friday before the transfer window opened. He had not been in team training for several days leading up to the game that prior Wednesday. I did not see this one coming and it is a show of intent by the Rapids Front Office.
Cabral was bust. He was in the final year of a 5-year contract, making $2.1 million guaranteed with LA Galaxy paying about half of it. Colorado traded for him in 2023 for $1 million GAM with LA picking up half his wages and him occupying a Colorado DP spot. He had 7g/5a across 77 appearances for Colorado. He had 10 starts and 770 minutes in MLS play in 2025, no goal contributions. Every other Rapids winger has done more with less. We know what he is. He’s a speed merchant who presses well but can’t finish. He loses the ball easily. He flubs tap ins. That’s fine for a second year GA kid. That’s a waste of a DP spot. I wish him well. He was humble and professional in media availability. He clearly had confidence issues. Maybe the expectations of coming to LA Galaxy for $6 million was too much. I still get why the FO took a chance on him in 2023. Maybe things are different if he doesn’t injure his elbow last summer.
Similar to Max Alves, I am relieved we don’t have to talk about this anymore. Burgundy Wave can confirm this move will free up a DP slot once he signs elsewhere, which is transferable to a U-22 spot. In hindsight, this move was not a signal of intent. The club gambled a bit that someone else would take a chance on him so they didn’t have to pay out the Galaxy’s portion of his pay to free up the DP spot. KSE cheapness strikes again.
Rumor Ranking: Done. Relief.
Homegrown Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry Loaned to Switchbacks:
On July 18, Homegrown goalkeeper Adam Beaudry was sent on loan to Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship. The loan is through the end of the season. Rapids can recall him at anytime. This is a good move for Beaudry. Nico Hansen took his opportunity in April and is now clearly the backup to Zack Steffen. Beaudry needs minutes above Rapids 2 to progress. The U-20 World Cup is next year in Chile. He wants to be there.
Switchbacks are having a poor title defense. They’re three points out of the playoffs and last in the USLC Western Conference. Maybe Beaudry beats out Christian Herrera, who has been dealing with a hand injury. Hopefully he gets some minutes because he probably wasn’t getting any with the Rapids first team the rest of the year.
Rumor Ranking: Done.
Israeli Center Back Stav Lemkin:
This rumor was fun while it lasted. Sources in Europe and Bogert reported Colorado Rapids nearly signed Israeli center back Stav Lemkin around June 9. The offer was reported about $1.6 million (maybe close to what they’ll sell Chido for). He would have been a U-22 signing. Two weeks later, FC Twente came and Wallie Pipp-ed Colorado. The transfer fee offers were about the same for what that’s worth.
Sources tell Burgundy Wave that the player’s inner circle pushed for him to stay in Europe. Lemkin has only ever played in Israel and Ukraine. It’s understandable he wanted out of Shakhtar Donetsk. He would have had plenty of exposure in MLS for a possible big money move. He will get that much if not more playing in the Eredivisie. Plus not being affected by the state of American-Israeli geopolitics.
Rumor Ranking: Not happening.
Speculative Possible Departures:
Big picture, Colorado needs a winger and a center back this window, especially with Chido sold. They need an upgrade at both positions to improve on last year if you ask me. Only one of those signings can fill the U-22 or DP spot. So there’s some maneuvering to be done by the FO.
With Awaziem sold, Andreas Maxsø has to be staying this summer. He was interested in a possible move to the Middle East in January but there wasn’t enough interest. Unless Colorado can really cash in there and for sure make another signing, it’s unlikely they sell both starting center backs now. The Great Dane is on a club option for 2026 so Colorado could decline it to just move on. There is a scenario where they pick up the option but sell him in January to make back some money.
It looked like Connor Ronan had one foot out the door in June. He’d been clearly a sub to Oli Larraz and Josh Atencio. Then he played 255 minutes of a possible 360 in the first four games of July. Helped Colorado get results against Vancouver and Seattle and complemented Cole Bassett well. He did just get his green card so he’s got better resale value within the league. Chris Armas sees value in him given his experience. He’s probably the most well-rounded of the center midfielders. Great utility player. TBD on if he can be Player of the Year like in 2023. Unless there’s a good cash transfer offer or a soft landing back in the EFL Championship or League One, he stays.
Lastly, Total Soccer Show floated the idea of Sam Vines leaving via an MLS cash transfer. He’s had some injuries this year. He’s competing with Jackson Travis. Travis had the starting left back position on lock back in May. Vines has started five of the last six though (the other being LAFC where Travis got a red card). Armas has made his fullbacks more vertical of late. Still, fans are waiting for the 2021 Vines back to show up. It has not been the best tactical fit since coming back from Royal Antwerp. He’s on $900,000, more than several impact starters. I could see a move within the league but it would have to be a great tactical fit and above market value. Colorado likely would need another signing with Travis as the only other true left back on the roster. Keegan Rosenberry could fill in in a pinch maybe.
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Eamon Shaw 
Spencer Baldwin 