Friday, the Rapids announced the addition of Liga MX goalkeeper William Yarbrough on a one-year loan. Yarbrough spent the last eight seasons with the top-tier Mexican club León, where he was a mainstay. Here are three things you need to know about the signing.
1. A Winning Resume
Yarbrough comes to Colorado after a tremendous amount of success with León. He played his first minutes with the club in 2012 and later served as the starter for the squad for five straight seasons. During that stretch, Yarbrough led the team to two league titles. He made 192 appearances and earned 48 shutouts during his eight seasons with the Mexican side. To gain perspective on how impressive these stats are, keep in mind that Matt Pickens has the most shutouts and games played in Rapids history with 116 and 29, respectively. Yarbrough departs from León undoubtably as a team - and league - legend.
2. USMNT Product
Yarbrough was born in Mexico to American parents and chose to represent the U.S. for international play. The 30-year-old has earned three caps with the US men’s national team. Most recently, he spent time with Team USA during the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers in 2018. Yarbrough has earned several call-ups to the national team throughout his career, often training alongside former Rapids 'keeper Tim Howard.
3. Get Ready for Some Competition
The signing of Yarbrough adds depth and competition to the goalkeeper position. Fans are familiar with the current starter, Clint Irwin, who took over the number one spot when Tim Howard retired in 2019. The addition of another senior goalkeeper with winning experience will mean competition for the MLS veteran, which should help take both 'keepers to the next level.
In addition to the fresh competition, the move gives the team a bit more security in case of knock on wood injuries. Last season, Howard sustained an injury that kept him sidelined for a period, which led to Irwin stepping up. This signing is another solid move for depth and competition by Pàdraig Smith and the Colorado front office.
