COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids 2 announced today that the club has signed midfielder Ricardo Peña on loan from Costa Rican side F.C. Moravia through the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season with a club option to buy in 2025, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
“Ricardo is part of a very good generation of young talent in Costa Rica. He exhibits many of the traits we want in a midfielder. He is forward thinking on the ball, aggressive in defending actions and aware in transitions. We believe his experiences at both the international and club level provide him with a good foundation to make his next step forward with our organization”, said Brian Crookham, Rapids 2 General Manager.
Peña, 19, joins Colorado’s MLS NEXT Pro side after being loaned out from F.C. Moravia to Slovakian side FC Spartak Trnava for the 2023 Niké Liga season. The midfielder made his debut with the club on August 3, 2023, in the team’s UEFA Europa Conference League qualification match against Latvian side Auda. He went on to make one more appearance for the club in the second round of the Slovnaft Cup, playing 90 minutes in the team’s match versus SK Surany. For the remainder of the 2023 season, Peña went on loan with Slovakian side OFK Malženice where he made three appearances for the team during the 2023 II. Liga season.
Born in Limón, Costa Rica, Peña joined the academy of F.C. Moravia in 2020 at the age of 15. He went on to make his first team debut for Moravia in 2021 at the age of 16. After spending two seasons with the Costa Rican side, Peña was loaned out on a two-year contract to Spanish side Real Betis where he scored one goal in four appearances for the club’s third team over the course of two seasons.
At the international level, Peña has spent time with Costa Rica’s U-15, U-16, U-17, U-20 and U-23 national teams. On June 20, 2023, Peña made his senior national team debut, recording 45 minutes of play during the team’s match against Ecuador in the 2023 Gold Cup. Peña made one additional appearance for Costa Rica during the Gold Cup, playing 59 minutes in the team’s match against Panama.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids 2 sign midfielder Ricardo Peña on February 19, 2024.
Ricardo Peña
Pronunciation: peh-nyah
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170 lbs
Birthdate: July 15, 2004
Birthplace: Limón, Costa Rica
Nationality: Costa Rica
