The Rapids have extended their affiliation agreement with the Charlotte Independence of the United Soccer League through 2017, the club announced Wednesday.
The affiliation agreement calls for the Rapids to send a minimum of four players annually on loan to Charlotte, which plays in the third-tier USL, in order to gain more playing time and experience. The agreement between Colorado and Charlotte began before the 2015 season and would have expired at the end of this year.
“Charlotte has proven to be a valuable environment for our players to further develop their skills as professionals during their loan stints,” Rapids VP of soccer operations Paul Bravo said in a news release.
The Rapids have loaned 10 players to Charlotte over the last two seasons, including striker Dominique Badji and winger Marlon Hairston, both of whom emerged as key contributors in Colorado this year.
