COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids announced today the signing of U.S. U-17 winger Dantouma “Yaya” Toure to a Homegrown Player contract. Toure joins the club on a four-year deal with a club option for an additional two years after the Rapids acquired his Homegrown Priority from New York Red Bulls in exchange for $50,000 in 2021 General Allocation Money (GAM). Should Toure meet certain performance incentives, New York Red Bulls would receive additional GAM and is entitled to a small percentage of any future transfer fee for Toure.
“Yaya is an exciting talent who has already shown tremendous potential through his performances in the USL Championship as a 16-year-old,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “He’s powerful and explosive on the ball and has an ability to take on defenders that allows him to be a difference maker. We believe he has all the qualities necessary to develop into an elite player and are excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Toure joins the Rapids after spending the 2020 season with New York Red Bulls II in the USL Championship, where he scored three goals and added three assists in 13 appearances, six of them starts. He previously played for the New York Red Bulls Academy, scoring six goals in 14 appearances with the RBNY U-18/19s.
Internationally, Toure has represented the U.S. at the U-16 and U-17 youth national team levels. In February 2020, he was part of the U.S. U-17 squad for the UEFA Development Tournament in England.
TRANSACTION: The Colorado Rapids acquire the Homegrown Priority for Dantouma Toure from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $50,000 in 2021 GAM; New York Red Bulls would receive additional GAM if Toure meets certain performance incentives. Colorado signs Toure to a four-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for an additional two years on March 4, 2021.
Dantouma “Yaya” Toure
Pronunciation: DAN-too-mah TOOR-ay
Position: Winger
Height: 5-8
Weight: 148
Birthdate: June 12, 2004
Birthplace: Conakry, Guinea
Last Club: New York Red Bulls II (USL Championship)
Nationality: USA, Guinea
