COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids announced today that the club has acquired $12 million from St. Louis CITY SC in exchange for forward Rafael Navarro marking the largest cash-for-player trade package in Major League Soccer history. As part of the agreement, the Rapids retain a sell-on percentage and may receive an additional $250,000 compensation based on performance incentives. The trade is conditional on the result of a medical test for Navarro. With this transaction, Colorado has now secured two of the three highest cash-for-player values in MLS history. The deal was completed prior to the close of the Secondary Transfer Window.
“Rafa has made an outstanding contribution to the Rapids, both through his performances on the field and the energy and personality he brought to the club every day,” said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith. “He represented the Rapids with passion and professionalism, scored important goals, and built a genuine connection with our supporters. We are enormously grateful for everything he gave to the club and for the role he played in our success. While decisions like this are never easy, we believe this move is right for both Rafa and the club as we continue to shape the roster around Matt’s game model. Rafa leaves with our sincere appreciation, and we wish him and his family every success in this next chapter.”
Navarro joined the club as a Designated Player during the 2023 MLS season on loan from Brazilian side Palmeiras. The striker was then permanently acquired following the conclusion of the loan in June of 2024. During his time in Colorado, Navarro made 114 appearances across all competitions, logging 44 goals and 16 assists. The Brazilian appeared for the club across various competitions apart from MLS, including Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, and the U.S. Open Cup.
"Since I joined, Rafa has shown himself to be an outstanding player and an even better person," said Colorado Rapids Head Coach Matt Wells. "I’ve worked with some of the world’s best, and Rafa has a mentality right up there with every one of them. It’s been a pleasure to work with him day in and day out and I will continue to follow his progress closely for the rest of his career."
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids acquire $12 million from St. Louis CITY SC, plus an additional $250,000 if certain performance metrics are met, in exchange for forward Rafael Navarro in a cash-for-player trade on September 2, 2026.
