The Colorado Rapids had a busy Saturday morning.
Not long after Rapids sources confirmed a transfer of winger Ted Ku-DiPietro from D.C. United, the club announced another midfield signing.
Ali Fadal, a Ghanaian center midfielder who previously played for Valencia B in the Spanish Segunda Federación (fourth tier), is on his way to Colorado. The deal is for two years through the 2026 season with club options for the 2027 and ’28 campaigns. He’s set to join the club once he receives his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
The 21-year-old joined Valencia B in July 2023 after spending a year with the club’s U-19 team. That December, he made his biggest appearance with Valencia CF’s first team as a sub in the Copa Del Rey quarterfinal against Arosa SC. Valencia won, 1-0.
All of his other official appearances came with Valencia B, where he amassed 31 appearances and one assist in two seasons. From what little film of Fadal exists online, he appears to have played as a pure central midfielder and defensive midfielder in stints.
The Rapids’ biggest needs this offseason were a center back, winger and a d-mid. With incoming players like Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy fulfilling the center back need and Ted Ku-DiPietro likely to play the wing, it’s safe to assume the Rapids will develop Fadal as that defensive midfielder.
As a teenager, Fadal spent time at The Soccer Institute of Montverde Academy in Florida.
Additionally, club sources told The Denver Post on Friday that the Rapids have sent a 2025 international roster slot to the Columbus Crew in exchange for $200,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and the Crew’s natural first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
International roster slots are typically traded for around $150,000 to $175,000 in GAM. Out of Columbus, the Rapids got more money and a coveted draft pick, which they’ve been stocking up on again for next year’s draft.
After selling franchise superstar and 2023 MLS MVP Cucho Hernández to La Liga’s Real Betis last week, Columbus is likely looking to make a splash signing to replace its best player and needed an international roster slot to get it done. For that reason, Colorado was able to exert leverage in the trade.
In the span of two weeks, the Rapids opened up two international roster slots by mutually terminating defender Daniel Chacón’s contract and French winger Kévin Cabral obtaining his green card. The trade with Columbus gets rid of one while Fadal’s signing will occupy the other.
With the season less than two weeks away, unless the Rapids make a splash signing of their own from within the MLS, it’s likely the team is done dealing, at least for this transfer window.