Colorado Rapids Soccer Club announced today the acquisition of defender Abdul Rwatubyaye, a 2019 international roster spot, $50,000 in 2019 Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), and a second round pick in the 2020 SuperDraft via trade with Sporting Kansas City in exchange for Benny Feilhaber. Additionally, Colorado Rapids swap positions in the waiver order with Sporting Kansas City.
Feilhaber will serve as a season-ending injury replacement player for Sporting Kansas City and as part of the trade, Colorado receives Sporting Kansas City’s $250,000 season-ending injury replacement player allowance.
“This transaction allows us to accumulate and reallocate significant assets toward younger, dynamic, high potential players who are committed to our club and our project," said Rapids Executive Vice President & General Manager, Pádraig Smith. "We are pleased to welcome Abdul to Colorado. He is a player with big talent and a lot of upside who we are excited to see develop with us.”
“We wish Benny and his family all the best in moving forward," added Smith.
In his first season with Colorado, Feilhaber struck two goals and recorded two assists in nine appearances across 620 minutes. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native played in his 245th MLS match last weekend against Vancouver in what would be his last game in the Burgundy and Blue.
Rwatubyaye, 22, arrived to MLS in February of this year after spending the previous three seasons with Rayon Sports FC of the top-flight Rwanda Premier League where he would claim three league titles. The 6-foot-1 defender has made two appearances, one from the start, since joining Sporting KC and has played a combined 164 minutes.
The Rwanda men’s national team player has 23 senior team caps and has scored one goal for the Wasps. Rwatubyaye has made numerous appearances in FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with his most recent one being on March 23 against Ivory Coast as Rwanda concluded 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
The Rapids are home this weekend to face Rocky Mountain rivals Real Salt Lake on May 11 with kickoff slated for 7:00 PM MT. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by going to https://www.coloradorapids.com/tickets.
Please visit the club’s official website at ColoradoRapids.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for up-to-the-minute information.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids – May 8, 2019 – Colorado Rapids have acquired defender Abdul Rwatubyaye, a 2019 international roster spot, $50,000 in 2019 Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), and a second round pick in the 2020 SuperDraft via trade with Sporting Kansas City in exchange for Benny Feilhaber. Additionally, Colorado Rapids swap positions in the waiver order with Sporting Kansas City.
Full Name: Abdul Rwatubyaye
Pronunciation: GWAH-too-BYAH-yay
Age: 22
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 175 lbs.
Birth Date: October 23, 1996
Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda
Birthplace: Kigali, Rwanda
MLS Roster Status: International
