Colorado Rapids call up three players on short-term agreements

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids announced today that they have called up midfielders Yosuke Hanya, Marlon Vargas and Daouda Amadou from the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side on Short-Term Agreements. All three players will be available for selection for the Rapids’ match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, May 27, at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park (7:30 p.m. MT; Apple TV - MLS Season Pass, Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM).

Hanya joined Rapids 2 ahead of the club’s inaugural season in 2022 following three years at University of Massachusetts Amherst where he totaled two goals and 17 assists across three seasons. The Tokyo, Japan, native was previously with Tokyo Gakugei University for a season prior to joining the Minutemen. Across 23 appearances in his first season with Rapids 2, Hanya scored four goals and recorded three assists. His performances led him to be named the first-ever Rapids 2 Player of the Year. This season, the 24-year-old midfielder leads MLS NEXT Pro in scoring with seven goals, while adding on two assists through seven appearances. Hanya was previously called up by the Rapids for their last three league games against the Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake, and made his First Team debut when he entered the match against Atlanta as an 88th-minute substitute.

Vargas joined Rapids 2 in January following a breakout season with Tacoma Defiance where he led the club’s attack with 13 goals and six assists, earning a spot on the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Best XI list. The 22-year-old midfielder has tallied seven appearances, all starts, this season with Rapids 2, registering two goals and two assists. Vargas made his First Team debut in April when he started for the Rapids in their 3-1 win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the third round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Amadou joined Rapids 2 ahead of the club’s inaugural season in 2022 on loan from MFK Vyskov where he made four appearances with the Czech club. Previous to his time with the Czech side, Amadou spent a four-year stint with Cameroonian club Oyili FC. Across 15 appearances in his first season with Rapids 2, the Cameroonian international recorded three assists. This season, the 20-year-old midfielder has added one assist in his seven appearances for the MLS NEXT Pro side.

Per the 2023 MLS Roster Rules and Regulations, a club may sign a player, age 25 or younger during the league season, from its affiliate (MLS NEXT Pro) to a maximum of four Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) each season (maximum of 16 days). An individual player may be included on up to four MLS league season match rosters each season, however, that player may appear in no more than two MLS league season matches. An individual player may appear in any number of non-league games during the terms of his four Short-Term Agreements.

TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids call up midfielders Yosuke Hanya, Marlon Vargas and Daouda Amadou on Short-Term Agreements on May 27, 2023.

Yosuke Hanya

Pronunciation: YO-skay HAN-yah

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-7

Weight: 150

Birthdate: January 30, 1999

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Nationality: Japan

Marlon Vargas

Pronunciation: VARH-guhs

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-5

Weight: 135

Birthdate: January 21, 2001

Birthplace: Bakersfield, CA

Nationality: United States, El Salvador

Daouda Amadou

Pronunciation: da-OOH-da AH-ma-doo

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-10

Weight: 158

Birthdate: October 2, 2002

Birthplace: Yaoundé, Cameroon

Nationality: Cameroon