Last updated: Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Commerce City, Colo. – Despite the World Cup, silly season started in early June for the Colorado Rapids. Here’s Burgundy Wave’s biannual Colorado Rapids transfer tracker. We update this regularly as news breaks to keep you up to date in one place throughout the summer. The MLS Secondary Transfer Window officially runs Monday, July 13 through Wednesday, September 2.
Lucas Herrington:
So, Lucas Herrington. Officially the youngest MLS and Australia player to start a World Cup game. If he is sold this summer, don’t expect it till after Australia’s World Cup is over. The Rapids historically have not negotiated while players are on international duty. They’ll pick up the phone and listen to offers. But they’re not agreeing to anything, yet.
I think it really just comes down to price. Two years ago, Colorado had a ‘can’t say no’ price for Moïse Bombito. They surely have one for Herrington. Would guess that’s somewhere between $10-15 million, depending on if he can stay for the rest of the season.
Making the World Cup roster put him on the map for every major team in Europe. Balling out for Colorado put him on the radar of Everton, West Ham, and Bundesliga teams. Starting a critical World Cup game at 18 has Liverpool and Barcelona looking at him.
Even if he doesn’t play more at the World Cup, if he continues his trajectory in the second half of the MLS season, a big club will meet Colorado’s ‘can’t say no’ price in the summer.
Herrington has been very complimentary of the support system he has in Colorado. He and his agent chose the Rapids over European options last summer because it was first team football, not a European reserve team. Another six months incubating with Wells might be better for him long term.
He’s on a four-year deal so there’s no rush from Colorado’s side. It could be a bigger payout if they wait longer. We’ll see how much money talks in a few weeks.
Rumor Status: Lots of noise from far down the road.
Ian Murphy to San Diego FC:
On June 27, Colorado Rapids confirmed that center back Ian Murphy has been traded to San Diego FC. Colorado gets a 2027 second round SuperDraft pick. BW can confirm it is Charlotte FC’s natural pick for this coming draft. There is $100,000 in conditional GAM as well. Colorado retains a portion of Murphy’s $447,500 salary. Typically in MLS that has been 50%.
The 26-year-old is under contract through 2026 with an option for 2027. SDFC might see this as a depth flyer and/or a rental.
Murphy was on the short list to be sold this summer. He has one first team appearance for year, off the bench at Toronto when the Rapids were playing with 9 men. He got a red card in his one Rapids 2 appearance. He’s fourth on the depth chart. Chris Armas didn’t really rate him. Matt Wells hasn’t either.
He gets a fresh start. He’s from Redlands, California (East LA) originally, so maybe being closer to family and friends will help. Colorado gets a his $447,500 salary off the books. They get a draft pick, which Pádraig Smith always likes. Still, the return, or lack there of shows he didn’t have much trade value given his compensation.
I hope things get better, Murph. Fittingly, the next game is San Diego at Colorado July 22.
Rumor Status: Official.
Alexis Manyoma purchase option declined:
Colorado Rapids confirmed June 27 that they declined the permanent transfer option on Colombian winger Alexis Manyoma. That option was due to expire July 21. I called this two months ago. He has 2 goals, no assists in 16 appearances for Colorado. One of those goals was an Open Cup game against a USL team. The other was in garbage time against LA Galaxy. Not impressive.
Like other departed players in this article, he’s been on the bench behind cheaper, younger players. A U22 winger taking up an International Slot has to be a starter. BW previously reported there was a $500,000 loan fee and the purchase option was in excess of $2 million. You can’t spend $6 million in transfer fees on three wingers.
“Manyoma’s probably the one player that’s very unfortunate to not be starting,” Wells said of the April 4 game at Toronto. “He’s not a player that deserves it the way he conducts himself, the way he trains.”
The 23-year-old returns to Club Estudiantes de La Plata. Colorado frees up a U22 slot. They have two open as of this move. $712K salary off the books. Expect Colorado to use that flexibility this window.
Rumor Status: Terminado.
Connor Ronan free transfer to Aberdeen:
June 17, Colorado Rapids confirmed the transfer of midfielder Connor Ronan to Aberdeen F.C. in Scotland. Burgundy Wave can confirm it is a free transfer. The 28-year-old signs a two-year deal with the Dons with an option for a third.
Ronan was good in his three-and-a-half years in MLS. He did have a few poorly timed injuries that kept him from getting minutes. He was a lone bright spot in 2023. At his worst, he was a good teammate and useful substitute. A jack of all trades in the midfield.
I’ll miss him but it’s a good time to leave. He gets to move closer to home with his young family growing up. Like others on this list, Colorado sheds $562,400 in salary for a player that wasn’t a locked down starter. Would have liked to see Colorado get a transfer fee. Ronan was on an option for 2027.
All the best.
Rumor Status: More done than a Boston bartender.
Loïc Williams arrives early, sort of:
Burgundy Wave can confirm Loïc Williams arrived in Colorado the last week of June and is officially under contract. The Spaniard signed on a pre-transfer back in March. This was a drawn out negotiation that started in March. Williams joins before the opening of the transfer window, which is allowed. He is just not allowed to play any MLS games till July 13. Colorado does not resume league play till July 22.
He has almost a month to get acclimated, fit, and maybe work on his English. That’s good. Should expect him to be in the team July 22 vs San Diego.
What else I’m hearing:
Matt Wells questions the culture and the mentality of the squad in the final game before the World Cup break:
“I’ve seen that before… That’s the bit over the summer we have to address… If we don’t find this winning mindset, how can we win MLS Cup? We cannot win the Open Cup. Any players that I don’t see that are capable of that (winning mindset), I need to them make decisions. They’re not the future of the Rapids and I need to make some changes.”
I’ve heard from multiple sources this window will be active. The club’s already moved off three players who weren’t playing. They’ve shed about $1.5 million in salary, plus an open U22 and International slot. I don’t see another obvious deadweight contract on the bench to offload.
The goal is to make two needle-mover signings this window. My guess is one is a midfield to compliment Paxten Aaronson. The other is probably a winger to replace Manyoma. One of those should be a U22. They could piece together enough GAM for another big inter-league swing.
It might take another sale to happen. There’s been a lot of skepticism from European and South American players coming to MLS with the current political climate. Visas could take longer as well. A league source said something similar in the winter. That could have contributed to Williams being a summer pre-transfer rather than joining the team at the start of the year.
Wells is particular about the character and profile of player he wants. The club would prefer to take their time to get the right player rather than rush to get a third or fourth option. If they get one of their two top targets, I expect a permanent transfer, not a loan with an option to buy, unless that’s all the parent club allows.
Good thing the window is open till September 2. The roster needs to be improved to make the playoffs.
Elsewhere, I think the market’s cooled on Rafael Navarro. He’s been fantastic this year. MLS MVP conversation good. With 9 goals and 5 assists in 18 games, I think the price has gone up. The Brazilian teams that could afford him at $10 million are big enough clubs that he wouldn’t be a guaranteed starter. Navarro’s found his level and is happy. Unless one of Brazilian giants wants to overpay, I think he’s a Rapid through the season.
I could see Colorado taking a flyer on a goalkeeper to support Nico Hansen now that Zack Steffen’s season (and time at the club) could be over. Think Clint Irwin. Raise the floor. Contract that’s easy to rent. CJ dos Santos and Pablo Sisniega are sitting behind a 19-year-old at San Diego. I’d take either of them. Tyler Miller is backing up in Charlotte. He’s 33 but a good journeyman. Signing a goalkeeper would allow Adam Beaudry to go back to starting for Loudoun on loan.
Also, right back. Kosi Thompson came to Colorado due to unusual circumstances. With Reggie Cannon healthy, they’ve got three. I don’t see any of them getting minutes at another position. At the same time, I’m not sure which one you sell. Thompson’s young and cheap. Cannon has the highest salary. Keegan Ronseberry’s club captain.
Even with the Murphy trade, I don’t see them acquiring another center back. Unless Herrington is sold.
Lastly, I could see a few loans to USL teams like last year. Ali Fadal and Kimani Stewart-Baynes are both approaching option years. Both have had good runs in MLS NEXT Pro. Neither has broken into the first team. A loan to a USL Championship team could be their audition to show they’re ready to break into the first team in 2027 and worth the option year.
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Spencer Baldwin 