Commerce City, Colo. – Colorado Rapids have traded winger Dante Sealy to CF Montreal, the clubs confirmed Friday morning. This comes amid Colorado overhauling their attack with the funds raised from selling Lucas Herrington. Colorado will receive $1.4 million in General Allocation Money with a conditional $300,000 GAM in performance based add-ons. $1 million of the guaranteed GAM is for 2027, giving the club flexibility for next year.
Sealy, age 23, was acquired from Montreal this past December. Montreal received $1.9 million in General Allocation Money with $600K in incentives. The move raised eyebrows given how much Colorado gave up. Sealy had 9 goals and 2 assists in 2025 for Montreal, his first full season as a first team starter.
He was the best attacker as a wingback on one of the worst teams in MLS last year. Colorado paid a high price based on that and the presumption of potential. As I wrote at the time, if he can get 11 goal contributions on a terrible team, imagine what he can do on a better team?
That has not panned out. Sealy had one goal as a Rapid. It was in the Open Cup against a third division team. In MLS play, he had no goals, 5 assists, in 15 starts, 1,086 minutes. That’s on 2.50 xG. I would be surprised if any of the incentives of that $600K was met. He has been disappointing in the final third. The finishing touch hasn’t been there.
He has not combined well enough with Rafael Navarro. Rafa usually makes it easier for those playing around him. At times, they’ve gotten in each other’s way.
Matt Wells was so pleased with the signing at the time. But it didn’t work out. It happens. I don’t know what contributed to Sealy’s breakout season last year. In any case, he’s going back to the club where he’s had played his best football. Hopefully he finds that form. Maybe it’s as a wingback. Maybe it’s now that there’s no expectations because of how poor 2026 has gone.
He is a player who likes to prove people wrong. He has yet to do so in 2026. Montreal Twitter’s expectations in reaction to this move have been mixed. I hope it gets better for him.
All of that said, I would not consider Sealy a bust for the Rapids. He was here for two thirds of a season. His salary is just $168,000 annually. This is way different than Kévin Cabral. Colorado recouped most of what they paid for him. This effectively was a 23 game loan for $500K in GAM. That’s $100K per regular season goal contribution. Not terrible.
I am surprised the Rapids got most of that GAM back. Maybe he has more value to Montreal because he’s a known quantity to them. I’m not sure they get $1.4 million from another MLS team.
Good Rapids Math in the end. Good on the Rapids FO to quickly pivot off a player who hasn’t worked out. Even if privately, somebody had to swallow their pride in admitting they got the valuation wrong. I wonder if the negotiations were similar to that scene from “Draft Day.”
“I want most of my GAM back. Then you get Dante Sealy. Say it with me you poutine eater,” said Pádraig Smith in my head cannon.
With their Lucas Herrington money, Sayed Abu Farchi close, and this GAM, Colorado’s in a good position to close out this transfer window. I would expect another winger through the door as a DP or U22. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another acquisition within the league as well. Likely for GAM and a player.
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Eamon Shaw 
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