COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 have re-signed midfielder Marlon Vargas through the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, the club announced today.
“It is great to have Marlon back with Rapids 2 following a successful first season with the club,” said Brian Crookham, Rapids 2 General Manager. “We are excited for him to continue his growth with the team and serve as a leader as we head into the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.”
Vargas was a standout among MLS NEXT Pro players in the 2023 season, scoring five goals and adding 10 assists across 27 appearances (24 starts) for Rapids 2. The midfielder ended the season at the top of the league’s charts for assists (10 assists) in a year that saw Colorado earn a spot in the Western Conference Final.
A highlight of his professional career, Vargas earned a short-term call up and made his MLS debut with the Colorado Rapids on May 31, 2023, playing 11 minutes in the team’s match against Columbus Crew. Vargas received one additional short-term call up to the first team and was afforded the opportunity to play 61 minutes in the Rapids’ U.S. Open Cup match versus USL League One side Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC.
Before joining the Colorado Rapids organization in January 2023, Vargas played for MLS NEXT Pro side Tacoma Defiance where he led the team’s attack with 13 goals and six assists and notched himself a spot on the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Best XI list. During his five years with Seattle, Vargas climbed the ranks, starting as an academy player in 2016 before signing his first professional contract at 17-years-old in 2018. Vargas compiled four goals and seven assists in 65 appearances with the club in his first four years as a professional.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids re-sign midfielder Marlon Vargas for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season on January 2, 2024.
Marlon Vargas
Pronunciation: VAR-giss
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Weight: 135
Birthdate: January 21, 2001
Birthplace: Bakersfield, CA
Nationality: United States, El Salvador
