COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids announced today the club has acquired midfielder Danny Leyva on loan from Seattle Sounders FC for the duration of the 2023 MLS season in exchange for $92,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM) and Colorado’s third round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. As part of the agreement, which was completed prior to the close of the Primary Transfer Window on April 24, both clubs reserve the right to end the loan during the Secondary Transfer Window. Leyva will occupy a Supplemental Slot on the Rapids’ roster.
“It was important for us to reinforce our midfield with a player of Danny’s quality as the schedule begins to get congested over the coming months,” said Colorado Rapids President Pádraig Smith. “Danny’s an intelligent and highly technical player who has already logged significant MLS minutes at his young age. We look forward to welcoming him to Colorado and seeing him contribute to the team.”
Leyva, 19, set a record as the youngest signing in Sounders FC history after inking a Homegrown Player deal with the team in 2019 at age 15. Since then, the central midfielder has gone on to make 54 regular-season appearances for Seattle, 25 as starts, recording two assists in that span. Leyva has also appeared in 33 matches across the USL Championship and MLS NEXT Pro for Tacoma Defiance since 2018, playing under current Rapids assistant coach Chris Little during his time as Tacoma’s head coach.
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Leyva has represented the United States at the youth national team level, starting all three matches for the U-17 U.S. Men’s Youth National Team at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, as well as starting six of their seven matches at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
Leyva will be available for selection as the Rapids kick off their 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run on Wednesday at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (7 p.m. MT; Colorado Rapids YouTube, Altitude Sports Radio AM950).
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids acquire midfielder Danny Leyva on loan from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for $92,000 in 2023 GAM and Colorado’s natural third-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
Danny Leyva
Pronunciation: LEY-vuh
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 140
Birthdate: May 5, 2003
Birthplace: Las Vegas, NV
Nationality: United States
