Rapids officially ink Bryan Acosta, announce several key extensions

After shipping out an Acosta from their midfield last week, the Colorado Rapids have added another Acosta to strengthen their midfield this week.

Not related to Kellyn—The Rapids announced Wednesday a two-year deal with a club option for Bryan Acosta. The former FC Dallas Designated Player was a free agent after being selected by Colorado in the 2021 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The 28-year-old logged 60 appearances and recorded two goals and five assists in the regular season during his time in Texas.

“We’re delighted to bring a player of Bryan’s quality to Colorado,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager, in a news release. “Bryan is a dynamic midfielder with experience within our league and at an international level. His power, technical play and ability on both sides of the ball will be an asset to our midfield. We look forward to welcoming him to our group ahead of the new season.”

Before playing with Toros, the La Ceiba, Honduras native, spent two years in the Spanish second division with C.D. Tenerife, where he recorded 51 appearances, six goals, and six assists across all competitions, including the Copa del Rey. Acosta has also featured for the Honduras men’s national team on 56 occasions, including 10 Concacaf World Cup Qualifying matches and 12 matches across four Concacaf Gold Cup tournaments, recording two goals and an assist.

While the in with the new might be more interesting, the extensions of the essential pieces already in Commerce City might be just as important.

On Wednesday, the Rapids announced extensions for Keegan Rosenberry, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Danny Wilson and Jack Price.

The captain, Price, is staying in Colorado on a two-year contract with club options for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The midfielder has been a critical figure in Colorado’s midfield and one of the most effective distributors in MLS. The Englishman has recorded a league-leading 22 assists off set pieces since 2019, including eight in 2021, while his 12 overall assists last season led the Rapids and were tied for fourth-most in MLS. Price has made 104 appearances for Colorado in his four seasons with the club, 100 as starts and recorded two goals and 32 assists. He has been named club MVP at season’s end four times.

“Jack has become the heartbeat of our team and one of the best midfielders in the league since his arrival four years ago,” Smith said. “His leadership, selflessness and elite set-piece deliveries have been a vital part of our on-field success, and we’re thrilled to secure his future in Burgundy.”

Wilson also signed a two-year contract extension through the 2024 MLS season with club options for 2024 and 2025. The defender anchored a backline that conceded the second-fewest goals in the West in 2021 as the Rapids finished the season atop the conference for the first time in club history. The 30-year-old will likely crack 100 appearances in Burgundy in 2022.

Kaye, 27, signed a four-year extension with a club option for 2026. The 2021 trade deadline pickup started 14 of his 15 appearances and scored one goal—a game-winning header against Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Real Salt Lake on Aug. 21—and added two assists for the Rapids. The 2019 MLS All-Star is a regular for the Canadian Men’s National Team.

“Mark has been one of the top central midfielders in MLS since he first joined the league and has continued to demonstrate his quality during his time with us,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “We’re delighted to secure his future in Burgundy and are excited to see the heights he can help the club reach in the coming years.”

Rosenberry signed a three-year extension with a club option for 2025 on Wednesday as well. The 28-year-old fullback Rosenberry originally joined the Rapids ahead of the 2019 season from Philadelphia and has since made 81 regular-season appearances for the club, registering four goals and eight assists. Since his arrival, the defender has been a stalwart in the Rapids’ back line, playing every minute of the 2019 season—one of only three outfield players in MLS to do so that year—and appearing in all but five of Colorado’s games since.

With the trade of Kellyn Acosta the loan of Cole Bassett and the loss of Dominique Badji to Cincinnati, Wednesday was huge in maintaining some of the roster from last season while adding team control and a potential experienced contributor.