COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 have signed center back Josh Belluz ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, the club announced today.
“We are thrilled to add Josh to the Rapids family. His profile is a great match for the evolution of our playing style. He is aggressive and physically dominant while still having the ability to read the game well and find the right pass,” said Brian Crookham, Rapids 2 General Manager.
Belluz kicked off his youth career in Ontario, Canada, as a product of Vaughan SC. His team titles with Vaughan SC are as follows: U16 OPDL Charity Shield Champions, U17 OPDL Charity Shield Champions, U17 OPDL Ontario Cup Champions, U18 Ontario Cup Champions 2018, U18 OYSL League Champions 2018 and U18 OYSL Cup Champions 2018. Most recently, Belluz led Vaughan SC to an appearance in the 2023 Canadian Championship where his team faced CF Montreal’s first team in the preliminary round of the championship.
"Josh has been with Vaughan Soccer since the age of 11. We have watched Josh grow his career from the grassroots program to the very top through our High Performance pathway in OPDL and League 1. Josh has earned an opportunity in the professional game as a result of his unwavering work ethic and dedication to growth. We are very excited to see what is to come for Josh in Colorado,” said Anthony Vadori, Men’s High Performance Coach at Vaughan Soccer Club.
Belluz joins Colorado from Syracuse University where he led the team in minutes played (1,811) during his fifth and final collegiate season, which saw the team make a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Belluz added two goals and one assist across the 2023 regular season and was one of four players to start in all 21 matches for the Orange. In addition to his offensive efforts, Belluz helped Syracuse’s defense to seven clean sheets during the regular season.
Previous to his time with Syracuse University, Belluz spent four seasons with Villanova University where he scored one goal and added two assists across his 51 appearances (50 starts). In 2021, Belluz helped the Wildcats to a 11-3-2 season record and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. During his first season with Villanova, the Canadian played in 1,613 minutes and was named to the Philly Soccer Six All-Rookie Team.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids 2 sign center back Josh Belluz on January 4, 2024.
Josh Belluz
Pronunciation: BAH-lose
Position: Defender
Height: 6-6
Weight: 207 lbs
Birthdate: April 4, 2001
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Nationality: Canada
