The Colorado Rapids announced today the club has signed midfielder Nicolás Mezquida and goalkeeper Andre Rawls to new, two-year contracts.
“We are delighted to welcome back Nico and Andre,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive Vice President & General Manager. “Nico enjoyed a strong and productive first season with us that saw him finish second in the team in assists and tally four goals, while Andre continued to show his quality in goal in training and during his loan spell with the Switchbacks. The two will reinforce our roster in key areas as we continue to build for 2020 and beyond.”
Mezquida is entering his second year with the Rapids after joining the club last season. The 27-year-old midfielder made 32 appearances and recorded four goals and six assists in 2019, finishing the season with the second-most assists on the team. Prior to his arrival in Colorado, Mezquida spent five seasons with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, tallying 14 goals and four assists across 101 total appearances for the Canadian side.
A native of Paysandú, Uruguay, Mezquida came up through the youth ranks at Uruguayan powerhouse Club Atlético Peñarol. He joined the senior team at the age of 16 in 2008 and would go on to play for Peñarol for four seasons with two loan spells at Norwegian sides SK Brann and Lillestrøm SK during his time with the South American club.
Rawls is also entering his second season with Colorado after being selected by the club in the 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The 27-year-old goalkeeper spent the 2019 season on loan with the Rapids’ USL affiliate, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, making 15 starts and recording six clean sheets in that span. Previously, Rawls spent three seasons with New York City FC.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids sign midfielder Nicolás Mezquida and goalkeeper Andre Rawls to new, two-year contracts.
2020 COLORADO RAPIDS ROSTER (as of Monday, November 25)
GOALKEEPERS (2): Clint Irwin, Andre Rawls
DEFENDERS (10): Lalas Abubakar, Sebastian Anderson, Kortne Ford, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Keegan Rosenberry, Auston Trusty, Axel Sjöberg, Sam Vines, Danny Wilson, Deklan Wynne
MIDFIELDERS (4): Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett, Nicolás Mezquida, Jack Price
FORWARDS (7): Matt Hundley, Kei Kamara, Jonathan Lewis, Niki Jackson, Sam Nicholson, Diego Rubio, Andre Shinyashiki
