Rapids decline option on Younes Namli as part of flurry of end-of-season moves

The Colorado Rapids announced end-of-season moves on Friday ahead of the looming offseason.

The biggest move was declining a purchase option for midfielder Younes Namli, a Designated Player who arrived in January 2020 on a two-year loan. He will head back to FC Krasnodar of the Russian Premier League. This means the Rapids, who earned the top seed in the MLS Western Conference, will have all three Designated Player spots at their disposal as they look to improve the roster.

Namli, a Copenhagen, Denmark native, made 12 appearances for the Rapids this season but an ankle injury cost him time. He underwent successful surgery, making 8 of his 12 appearances afterward, including as a substitute in the Thanksgiving Day loss to Portland.

In other moves. the club exercised contract options on Mark-Anthony Kaye, Kellyn Acosta and Andre Shinyashiki, all of whom will return in 2022.

The Rapids also declined five other players’ contracts: defenders Kortne Ford and Jeremy Kelly, midfielders Nicolás Mezquida and Will Vint, and goalkeeper Andre Rawls. Ford was loaned to San Antonio FC of the USL Championship in August, and helped the side reach the USL Western Conference championship.

Three players are out of contract, including Dominique Badji, who scored five goals in 12 appearances since joining the club in July from Nashville SC. The other two are veteran defenders Drew Moor and Steven Beitashour.

Even though those contracts expired or were declined, the club remains in discussions with Badji, Beitashour, Ford, Kelly, Mezquida and Moor over possible new deals for 2022, the club said. With all of the moves made, it brings the Rapids’ full roster to 24 players heading into next year.

The offseason officially begins Dec. 12 with an unusual half-day trading window that will last four hours. The Rapids will have to submit a list of protected players on that day as well, two days ahead of the expansion draft for FC Charlotte on Dec. 14.

Footnote. Also on Friday, the United States Men’s National Team called in three members of the Rapids for a December friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Defender Auston Trusty and midfielders Cole Bassett and Kellyn Acosta were named to Gregg Berhalter’s 26-man roster. Trusty last earned a call-up in January 2019, while Bassett was called up last December. Both are hoping to earn their first caps if they can get playing time.

Source: Read Full Article