UPDATE: Rapids sign goalkeeper William Yarbrough

UPDATE 3/6: Within hours of William Yarbrough being spotted at training today, the Colorado Rapids have announced that they have, in fact, signed the goalkeeper to a one-year loan.

In the press release, Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP and General Manager said: “One of our objectives over the offseason was to build a roster deep with talent and to foster competition all over the field and this signing further helps us achieve that. The opportunity to bring in a player of Will’s quality doesn’t come around every day, so we’re excited to have him join our already strong goalkeeping group.”

Yarbrough will be introduced to fans and media today (March 6) at 6 p.m. at the Dairy Block.

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3/5: The Colorado Rapids have reportedly signed goalkeeper William Yarbrough, as confirmed by the Denver Post, and on social media by both his former club (Liga MX’s Leon) and the player himself.

The 30-year-old ‘keeper has spent his whole career playing in Mexico. He was born in Mexico, but represents the United States through his parents and has earned three caps with the USMNT.

He’s played almost 170 matches for León, but has been second fiddle to new signing Rodolfo Cota since he joined the club in 2018.

Jake Shapiro with the Denver Post reported that the move is a one-year loan, and Yarbrough won’t take up any TAM or a Designated Player slot.

Rapids EVP & General Manager Padraig Smith was asked about the Yarbrough signing yesterday and after initially saying “no comment,” he explained that “it wouldn’t be appropriate” for him to comment. “Will’s a León player. He’s highly regarded and I think he’s a very, very good goalkeeper, but he’s a Leon player so it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

What makes this signing odd is that the Rapids roster would have four goalkeepers: Clint Irwin, Andre Rawls, Abe Rodriguez, and now William Yarbrough. All off-season GM Smith was adamant that he was happy with our current goalkeepers—and Andre Rawls signed a contract extension—but things may have changed.

If this move comes to fruition, it would be very interesting to see who between Yarbrough and current starter Clint Irwin would win the starting spot. Yarbrough hasn’t been a consistent starter for at least a year, but neither has Clint Irwin. The Rapids are known for not making quick decisions on signings (scouting Younes Namli for over two years before actually signing him), so they may have had their eye on Yarbrough for a while. Potentially, we’ve been interested in Yarbrough for a few seasons, knowing Tim Howard was soon to retire, and he’s just now becoming available, but that’s all just speculation.

We will just have to see what transpires in the next few days, but at this time it seems we have a new keeper in the Burgundy and Blue!