Colorado Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita undergoes ACL surgery, expected to be out nine months – The Denver Post

Aboubacar Keita, who signed with the Rapids in January, will miss the remainder of the regular season after he underwent surgery on his right knee to repair an anterior cruciate ligament, the club announced.

Keita, 21, joined Colorado from Columbus Crew in exchange for $300,000 in General Allocation Money and up to $150,000 in incentives. He had been a Homegrown Player for the Crew and made 37 appearances in his professional career. The Rapids inherited Keita’s Homegrown contract from Columbus, which runs through the end of 2022, with a club option for 2023.

Keita will begin his rehabilitation in Columbus, Ohio, close to his hometown and family, before returning to the team at a later date. He missed most of the preseason with a nagging calf strain, and played for a span of just 10 minutes.

Keita is the second member of the Rapids to go down with an ACL injury this season, as fellow 21-year-old left winger Braian Galván also underwent surgery on his ACL and a meniscus injury last month.

As a result of the injury, the Rapids’ depth chart took a hit. Auston Trusty has locked down the starting role, while Lucas Esteves has done a good job up the field at left wing back. However, the situation will change in a few months. Trusty is leaving for Arsenal in July, while Esteves is on loan until June from Palmeiras, but the Rapids, crucially, have an option to buy Esteves from Palmeiras.

Colorado has young options who can step in to that role in central defender Michael Edwards and Sebastian Anderson, who plays right back, while new SuperDraft pick Anthony Markanich is a left back or left wing back.

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