The Colorado Rapids traded for two center backs Wednesday afternoon.
In a pair of transactions, the club acquired the rights to Lalas Abubakar, who spent last season in burgundy while on loan from Columbus, and traded for 21-year-old Philadelphia Union defender Auston Trusty.
For Abubakar, the Rapids sent $400,000 in 2020 General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Crew and a 2020 international roster spot. In the deal for Trusty, the Union acquired $300,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) payable in 2020 and $300,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) payable in 2021 from the Rapids.
A native of Ghana, Abubakar quickly became a fan favorite last season with his gritty style from the center of the field.