The Colorado Rapids were looking for another defender to help shore up the back line. On Monday, the team went back to the state of Ohio to find a quality one.
The Colorado Rapids acquired Ecuadorian center back Gustavo Vallecilla from FC Cincinnati, the team announced Monday. The Rapids sent up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to FC Cincinnati in exchange for Vallecilla. The Ecuadorian center back will occupy a U22 Initiative spot. The deal could reach up to $1.3 million.
As part of the deal, Colorado will send $400,000 in GAM to Cincinnati this season and another $400,000 in 2023. The Rapids could send another $50,000 in GAM if performance incentives are met. The money is only part of the equation, however.
FC Cincinnati recently triggered an option-to-buy Vallecilla after he joined on loan from SD Aucas at the start of the 2021 season. MLSSoccer.com’s Tom Bogert reported the Rapids will have to pay an additional $450,000 to SD Audas as part of Vallecilla’s transfer fee when he joined FC Cincinnati officially this past offseason. Last season the defender earned $284,880 in guaranteed compensation, according to the MLS Player’s Association salary guide.
“Gustavo is a young, explosive defender who is one of the top center back prospects in the country,” Rapids general manager Pádraig Smith said in a team statement. “We believe he has the qualities to develop into a dominant defender in this league and look forward to welcoming him to the club.”
Vallecilla will be third squad member to fit under the U22 Initiative category, as he joins Max Alves de Silva and Lucas Esteves. The U22 Initiative deal is designed for teams to sign younger players, up to three per team, under the age of 22 to strong contracts at a reduced cost. With Vallecilla filling the final spot, the Rapids cannot sign another U22 Initiative deal until other U22 contracts expire and the team can re-negotiate with that player.
The move comes after the Rapids lost a few players to injury, notably center back Aboubacar Keita, who arrived from Columbus Crew this offseason, but underwent ACL surgery last month. Additionally, the Rapids will also be looking to find a viable option to step in for Auston Trusty, who will depart for Arsenal in the summer.
Vallecilla spent the majority of his career playing in Ecuador’s top flight, and played in South America’s most famous club tournament, Copa Libertadores, with Barcelona SC. He joined FC Cincinnati at the start of the 2021 season and made 25 appearances in a two-year stretch and played just over 2,000 minutes and scored twice.
Vallecilla is also highly regarded in the international level. He made his senior team debut for Ecuador in December, and played every minute of its third-place finish in the U-20 World Cup in 2019.
The Rapids currently sit in sixth-place in the Western Conference with seven points, and are just three points off the top spot. They will look to continue a strong run of form 7 p.m. Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park against rivals Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup.
