COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids announced today the signing of defender Michael Edwards from German side VfL Wolfsburg to a Homegrown Player contract. Edwards joins the team on a two-year deal with a club option for an additional two years after the Rapids acquired Edwards’ Homegrown Priority from D.C. United in exchange for $75,000 in 2021 General Allocation Money (GAM). Should Edwards meet certain performance incentives, D.C. United would receive additional GAM.
“Michael is a very promising talent who we’ve been monitoring for some time now,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “He’s a powerful and athletic defender with good distribution and who possesses the qualities we need in our center-backs. As we continue to emphasize youth development as a foundation for long-term success, we believe Michael has the potential to turn into an outstanding defender and are delighted to welcome him to the club.”
Edwards originally joined Wolfsburg’s U-19 academy team in October 2018 as a 17-year-old after several years in the D.C. United Academy. The 20-year-old center-back made 14 appearances for Wolfsburg’s U-19s before being promoted to Wolfsburg II in the Regionalliga Nord, the German fourth tier, in July 2019. Edwards made 17 appearances since then, all of them starts, and has trained with Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga squad.
A native of Woodbridge, Va., Edwards was included in the U.S. U-17 roster for the 2016 Aegean Cup in Turkey.
TRANSACTION: The Colorado Rapids acquire the Homegrown Priority for defender Michael Edwards from D.C. United in exchange for $75,000 in 2021 GAM; D.C. United will receive additional GAM if Edwards meets certain performance incentives. Colorado signs Edwards to a two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for an additional two years on March 4, 2021.
Michael Edwards
Pronunciation: ED-werdz
Position: Defender
Height: 6-3
Weight: 176
Birthdate: Nov. 27, 2000
Birthplace: Woodbridge, VA
Last Club: VfL Wolsfburg (Germany)
Nationality: USA
