A look at the 2024 Colorado Rapids roster ahead of the season-opening match at Portland. The match kicks off at 8:30 p.m. and will be available to watch on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
Forwards
7 Jonathan Lewis
F | 26 years old | 5-foot-7 | 150 pounds | Plantation, Fla.
A speedy forward who can beat defenses down the line and whip in a decent service or take it on himself. Scored one goal in 26 appearances last season.
9 Rafael Navarro
F | 23 | 6-0 | 185 | Cabo Frio, Brazil
A proven goal-poacher in Brazil’s Serie B, the Designated Player failed to live up to his potential with an underwhelming Rapids roster last year. Depending on his performance to start the season, team president Pádraig Smith may have some decisions to make regarding his loan, which is up in July.
14 Calvin Harris
F | 23 | 6-0 | 161 | Middlesbrough, England
Another speedy winger who paired well with an attack-minded outside back in Andrew Gutman last season. He could link up with Sam Vines the same way this season, making for lethal attacks on the left wing.
27 Kimani Stewart-Baynes
F | 19 | 5-9 | 152 | Toronto
The Big Ten freshman of the year at Maryland last year, Stewart-Baynes received plenty of first team minutes in the preseason and even scored a goal. He was picked fourth overall in this year’s SuperDraft.
77 Darren Yapi
F | 19 | 6-1 | 174 | Denver
The youngster did just about everything for the Rapids last year except put it in the back of the net. So many chances came and went for Yapi, but most were negated due to misfortune or jitters around goal.
91 Kévin Cabral
F | 24 | 6-1 | 152 | Paris, France
One of three DPs on the roster, Cabral struggled to get anything going last season. There were signs of a swift, cerebral player, but it was never consistent. He had an impressive preseason.
Midfielders
10 Djordje Mihailovic
M | 25 | 5-10 | 152 | Jacksonville, Fla.
The Rapids’ new club-record transfer from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar might be the biggest piece in solving the Rapids’ goal-scoring problems. An eye for passing and a powerful shot makes him a dual threat as an attacking mid. He has previous MLS success, winning a Canadian Championship with CF Montreal in 2021.
11 Omir Fernández
M | 25 | 5-7 | 141 | Bronx, N.Y.
The first big signing of the offseason, Fernández brings wing presence to a team that desperately needs it. He and coach Chris Armas go back to their days at New York Red Bulls and bring a good bond to the Rapids.
18 Oliver Larraz
M | 22 | 5-10 | 139 | Denver
One of three Homegrowns to be signed to the first team this offseason. Larraz played a huge role in Rapids 2’s ascension to the Western Conference Final last year.
20 Connor Ronan
M | 25 | 5-7 | 154 | Rochdale, England
Ronan was named the Rapids MVP last season, and for good reason: He was the most consistent piece of a struggling team who gave all-out effort every night. The most dangerous part of his game was his set piece ability, where he got a number of his 11 assists last season.
21 Jasper Löffelsend
M | 26 | 5-8 | 146 | Koln, Germany
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Rapids acquire midfielder Jasper Löffelsend from Real Salt Lake, lock down homegrowns in long-term deals with Cole Bassett, goalie Adam Beaudry
An arch-rival turned teammate, Löffelsend brings intense and strong defense to the midfield from Real Salt Lake. Don’t get it twisted, though, he now bleeds burgundy and blue.
23 Cole Bassett
M | 22 | 5-11 | 150 | Littleton
Bassett was the Rapids’ leading scorer last year and went on a tear to finish off the campaign, netting four of his six goals in the season’s last eight matches. That earned the Homegrown a four-year extension to lead a revamped midfield.
24 Wayne Frederick
M | 20 | 6-0 | 145 | Cabin John, Md.
The second overall pick in this year’s SuperDraft tallied three goals and three assists at Duke in 2023.
97 Ralph Priso-Mbongue
M | 21 | 5-9 | 176 | Toronto
Priso-Mbongue notched two assists in 26 appearances and proved to be a decent depth option as a defensive mid.
Lamine Diack
M | 23 | 6-1 | 182 | Dakar, Senegal
The newest member of the Rapids, Diack joined on a 6-month loan from FC Nantes in France with an option to buy. A strong, defensive-minded mid, he will likely battle Löffelsend for the starting No. 6 job.
Defenders
2 Keegan Rosenberry
D | 30 | 5-8 | 161 | Ronks, Penn.
The oldest and longest-tenured Rapid was named team captain for 2024. Along with a very select few still on the roster, Rosenberry has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows for the club.
3 Sam Vines
D | 24 | 5-10 | 150 | Colorado Springs
Vines’ return to Colorado likely wasn’t on many people’s bingo cards, but he felt the time was right to come back and will bring his attacking mindset to the back line. Vines was a pivotal piece in the 2021 squad which topped the Western Conference.
5 Andreas Maxsø
D | 29 | 6-3 | 187 | Hvidovre, Denmark
The Great Dane was consistently the Rapids’ best center back last season and wore the captain’s armband while William Yarbrough was injured. He’s dangerous on set pieces — both of his goals last year came on corner kicks. He led the team in minutes played with 2,925.
6 Lalas Abubakar
D | 29 | 6-1 | 181 | Khumasi, Ghana
Abubakar had somewhat of a down year last season, logging his least minutes since the shortened 2020 campaign. He’s another set piece threat who has logged six goals in his last two seasons, two of them last year.
16 Alex Gersbach
D | 26 | 6-0 | 161 | Auburn, Australia
The Australian international seemed poised to break into a regular role before having surgery to address a chronic adductor tendon injury last July.
27 Sebastian Anderson
D | 21 | 5-8 | 154 | Sacramento, Calif.
Another of Colorado’s three Homegrown signings this offseason, Anderson also played a significant role in Rapids 2’s success last year, logging an assist.
34 Michael Edwards
D | 23 | 6-4 | 176 | Woodbridge, Va.
Edwards has yet to play a minute for the first team, but has played stints for Rapids 2 and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
57 Nate Jones
D | 22 | 6-3 | 185 | Gig Harbor, Wash.
The fifth pick of this year’s SuperDraft was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team last season at Washington, notching three goals and two assists in the process.
64 Moïse Bombito
D | 23 | 6-3 | 183 | Montreal
Another promising young center back, Bombito started to break into the starting lineup toward the end of last season and is poised to have a more regular role as a starter after the Rapids parted ways with Danny Wilson. Bombito has four caps for the Canadian national team.
Goalkeepers
1 Marko Ilić
GK | 26 | 6-3 | 179 | Novi Sad, Serbia
The Rapids bought the Serbian international from his loan from Belgian side KV Kortrijk last July and paid a significant transfer fee for him. He grabbed the reins in goal when Yarbrough was injured last season and will serve as Zack Steffen’s backup.
31 Adam Beaudry
GK | 17 | 6-2 | 154 | Castle Pines
By far the youngest member of the Rapids, Beaudry became the third Homegrown signing of the offseason. The high schooler signed a four-year deal and could very well be the future of goalkeeping in Colorado, learning from Steffen and Ilić.
95 Zack Steffen
GK | 28 | 6-3 | 190 | Coatesville, Penn.
An accomplished keeper domestically and internationally, Steffen will play a huge role in looking for a turnaround this season. He’s won two Premier League titles as Manchester City’s No. 2 keeper.
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