The Colorado Rapids announced today the signing of defender Auston Trusty from the Philadelphia Union to a new multi-year contract in exchange for $300,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) payable in 2020 and $300,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) payable in 2021.
“Auston is one of the best young defenders in MLS and we’re excited to have him join the club,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive Vice President & General Manager. “Despite his young age, he has already gained significant experience in our league and has demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level and we expect him to fit right into the young, dynamic core of players we are building our roster around.”
Trusty, 21, spent the past four seasons with the Union, which he originally joined as the club’s fifth-ever Homegrown Player signing in 2016. The Media, Pennsylvania, native was the Union’s first youth academy graduate to sign a professional contract with the first team.
After spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the Union’s USL side, Bethlehem Steel FC, Trusty made his MLS debut in 2018 in what was a breakout season for the 6-foot-3 center back. He was the only Union player to start every regular season game for the club that year, setting a new league record for the youngest field player to do so over a 34-game regular season at 20 years old.
Last season, Trusty made 22 appearances for the Union, all starts, helping the club to a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Overall, Trusty recorded 56 appearances, two goals and an assist during his time in Pennsylvania.
At the Rapids, Trusty will be reunited with fellow U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team teammates Jonathan Lewis and Sam Vines. The three recently featured for the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team in a 6-1 friendly win over El Salvador on Oct. 15. Trusty has also been previously called up to the senior U.S. men’s national team and was on the matchday roster for their friendlies against Panama (January 27) and Costa Rica (February 2) earlier this year.
If Trusty reaches certain performance-based metrics during the 2020 season, the Union would receive an additional $150,000 in GAM in 2021. Philadelphia would also receive 30% of any sell-on fee if Trusty is sold outside of MLS before Dec. 31, 2021 and 25% of the fee if sold on or after Jan. 1, 2022. The percentage would only apply to any amount received over what the Rapids paid the Union for Trusty, not the total transaction fee.