Rapids 2 today announced eight First Team players on loan for the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, pending league and federation approval. Under the terms of the loan agreement, the Rapids First Team retains the right to recall all players at any point during the remainder of the MLS regular season, subject to MLS roster compliance guidelines.
Players on loan from the First Team include defenders Sebastian Anderson, Michael Edwards, Anthony Markanich and Jackson Travis, midfielder Philip Mayaka, forwards Dantouma Toure and Darren Yapi, and goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez.
“We are in the middle of an exciting era with so many talented young players on our First Team roster. The competitive opportunities that Rapids 2 will provide ensures that these players continue to move forward on the development pathway while they look to earn more First Team minutes”, said Rapids 2 General Manager Brian Crookham
Anderson, 19, became the youngest player in Rapids history after signing a Homegrown contract with the team in 2019 at 16-years-old. The right back also set a club record as the youngest Rapids player to make his professional debut and start for the club when he featured against Atlanta United FC on April 27, 2019. He also became the youngest Rapids player to score a goal when he netted his first professional career goal in July 2019. On March 29, 2021, Anderson was loaned out to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship where he played in 28 games, all of them starts, and added six assists.
Edwards, 21, was acquired by the Rapids on March 4, 2021 as a Homegrown contract player. During the 2021 season, Edwards was loaned out to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship where he earned 24 appearances for a total of 2,045 minutes and scored two goals for the affiliate side. Previous to his time with the Switchbacks, Edwards spent two seasons with VfL Wolfsbug in the German Regionalliga Nord.
Markanich, 22, was selected 26th overall by the Rapids in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by Adidas. During his four seasons at Northern Illinois University, Markanich was a three-time First-Team All-MAC honoree and NIU’s first four-time All-MAC recipient since 2002. The left back made 67 appearances for the Huskies, registering 17 goals and adding 24 assists, the latter of which are tied for second-most in program history.
Travis, 18, penned his first professional contract on March 4, 2022 as a Rapids Homegrown product. The left-footed full back first joined the Rapids organization in 2020 and began his career with the club’s U-17 Academy team, playing a key part in their run to the quarterfinals of the 2021 MLS NEXT Cup.
Mayaka, 21, was selected in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft as the No. 3 overall pick. The Kenyan midfielder was loaned to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship for the 2021 season where he made 19 appearances, 13 of them starts. Mayaka also earned a call up to the Kenya national team for the 2021 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Toure, 17, was signed to a Rapids Homegrown contract on March 4, 2021. Later that month, Toure was loaned out to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and made 23 appearances and scored three goals for the USL Championship club. Before his time with the Switchbacks, Toure played with New York Red Bulls II, adding three goals and three assists in the 2020 USL Championship season.
Yapi, 17, is the youngest player ever to sign with the Rapids at 16 years, 104 days old and the 14th Rapids Academy product to sign a Homegrown contract with Colorado. The midfielder recently made his Rapids First Team debut in March 2022. Yapi played the 2021 season on loan with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC where he appeared in 16 matches and scored two goals, including first professional goal against Austin Bold FC. In 2020, Yapi was named the Rapids Academy Player of the Year.
Rodriguez, 19, became the 12th Rapids Academy product to sign a Homegrown contract on February 20, 2020. In the 2021 season, the goalkeeper was loaned to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC where he made 23 saves on 34 shots in six matches. The previous year, Rodriquez posted a 66.7% save percentage and one clean sheet with the USL Championship side in five appearances on the pitch.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids 2 acquire eight First Team loans for the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Sebastian Anderson
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Birthdate: August 8, 2002
Birthplace: Sacramento, California
Nationality: USA
Michael Edwards
Position: Defender
Height: 6-4
Birthdate: November 27, 2000
Birthplace: Woodbridge, Virginia
Nationality: USA
Anthony Markanich
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Birthdate: December 26, 1999
Birthplace: Bourbonnais, Illinois
Nationality: USA
Jackson Travis
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Birthdate: February 23, 2004
Birthplace: Jackson, Mississippi
Nationality: USA
Philip Mayaka
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-7
Birthdate: November 30, 2000
Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya
Nationality: Kenya
Dantouma Toure
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Birthdate: June 12, 2004
Birthplace: Conakry, Guinea
Nationality: USA, Guinea
Darren Yapi
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Birthdate: November 19, 2004
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
Nationality: USA
Abraham Rodriguez
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-8
Birthdate: July 15, 2002
Birthplace: Thornton, Colorado
Nationality: USA
