COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids announced today the club has agreed to transfer defender Lucas Herrington to Premier League side Hull City. The transfer breaks the club’s record fee, with the Rapids maintaining a percentage of Herrington’s future sell-on rights. The transfer also marks the highest fee for a defender in MLS history.
“Lucas is a special talent whose elite mentality and character match his outstanding ability on the field,” said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith. “We are incredibly proud of everything he accomplished during his time with the Rapids and excited for him as he takes this next step in his career. Identifying, recruiting, and developing the best young talent, locally, nationally and internationally, is a key part of our club strategy. Our ambition is to help them make an impact and win here in MLS, while creating an environment in which they can reach their full potential. Lucas is a wonderful example of that approach, and we wish him every success at Hull City.”
Herrington joined the Rapids at the start of the 2026 MLS season and has experienced a breakout year. The Australian international instantly became a fixture in the Colorado lineup, appearing in all of the club’s 18 MLS matches this season and starting in all but one. The defender logged 1,531 minutes, ranking second on the team, and one goal, which came in his DICK’S Sporting Goods Park debut on February 28 against the Portland Timbers.
“When I landed in Colorado in January, I had left Australia for the first time to come across the world and chase a dream. The Rapids and their fans took a chance on me and made me feel at home from day one,” said defender Lucas Herrington. “I’m grateful to my family, my teammates and coach Matt Wells, and Padraig Smith for believing in me, supporting my growth and giving me the opportunity to take the next steps in my career. To the fans; thank you for embracing a kid from Brisbane as one of your own. Colorado has given me so much, and I’ll always be proud to have been a Rapid. I’m excited for what comes next, but I’ll never forget my time here. Thank you.”
In his 18 appearances in MLS this season, the 18-year-old ranked amongst the league’s best in multiple stat categories. In all of MLS, the defender ranked fourth in pass percentage (94.1%, min. 1,080 minutes), fourth in completed passes (1,330), and fourth in aerial challenges won (50). On July 8, Herrington was named to the 2026 MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, becoming one of just two players in their debut season to be named to this season’s All-Star team. The defender started the yearly showcase, becoming the fourth youngest player in MLS history to do so.
“What an incredible and well-deserved achievement for Lucas to be heading to the Premier League,” said Colorado Rapids Head Coach Matt Wells. “From the outset, Lucas embraced absolutely every element of the environment we set out to create here. In our first meeting, he expressed to me his ambition was to play ‘some minutes’ this season in the MLS. Just a few months later, he played in a World Cup and is now Premier League bound. He’s a brilliant example of the type of people we want to bring to Colorado. Those who are excited by our dominant style of football and ready to push themselves every single day to be world class. At the beginning I told everyone we would play in the image of a ‘big team’ and therefore demand that our individuals perform like a ‘big player.’ Lucas has done that consistently and as a result he has been recognized on the biggest stages. He’s a player with immense potential, but most importantly, he is a person of the highest quality and I’ve no doubt he will now thrive in one of the top leagues in the world.”
A part of Herrington’s debut season with the Rapids included the defender receiving his first senior call ups to the Australia Men’s National Team. The Brisbane native was first called up to Australia in March, where he started in all three matches for Australia during the FIFA window, recording victories over Cameroon, Curaçao and Mexico. Most recently, Herrington represented Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting two matches and logging 210 minutes, including a full 120-minute performance in the Socceroos' Round of 32 match against Egypt. There, Herrington became the youngest active player in MLS history to appear in at the FIFA World Cup.
Herrington becomes the sixth Rapids player in the last six seasons to transfer to a European club, and the second to go for a record fee.
