The Colorado Rapids may have missed the playoffs in three of the last five years, culminating in a 9-15-10 10th placed finish last season, but that doesn’t mean there’s not reason for excitement.
According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN, the Rapids are on the verge of bring one of America’s biggest soccer stars to Colorado.
#USMNT goalie Tim Howard is on verge of completing move to MLS' Colorado Rapids from Everton. (via @JeffreyCarlisle) pic.twitter.com/ZlSH3s6Z8N
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 27, 2016
Since he first joined the United States men’s national team in 2002, Howard has been one of the biggest names in professional soccer. It even earned him a 10-plus-year career in the Premier League, where he played for Manchester United for three seasons before moving to Everton for another 10.
At the age of 36, though, Howard, a native of New Jersey, will be returning to the states for another go-round in the MLS.
Carlisle says that Howard will complete his Premier League season with Everton before joining the Rapids in July, when the MLS summer transfer window opens.
The move will cost the Rapids a pretty penny, as his salary will clock in at around $2 million per year, easily the most for any goalkeeper in the MLS. Still, that’s down from the $5 million per year Howard was reportedly asking for last week.
With Howard now in the mix, the Rapids are hoping the increased star power will raise the franchise’s profile, leading to increased ticket and sponsorship sales.
According to Carlisle, though, this is only one half of the Rapids’ larger plan. He says that Colorado had made it a “huge priority” to acquire a Mexico international and U.S. counterpart this offseason.
Howard is without question a big win for the Rapids franchise, but time will tell if they have more up their sleeve.