The Colorado Rapids are currently in advanced negotiations to secure the signing of Zack Steffen, the U.S. national team goalkeeper, from Manchester City, according to sources familiar with the deal. While the agreement has not been finalized, discussions are progressing positively.
Zack Steffen, 28, joined Manchester City in 2019 after an impressive stint with the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer (MLS), where he was named the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2018. Since joining City, Steffen has been loaned out to various clubs, including Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Bundesliga and most recently Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship. In total, he has made 84 appearances for these clubs. His transfer to City was valued at around $7 million.
Unfortunately, Steffen has been sidelined for the first half of the current European season due to a knee injury. He underwent surgery during the summer, which ruled out any possibility of being loaned out for playing time this year.
Previously considered the first-choice goalkeeper for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) in the 2022 World Cup cycle, Steffen has fallen out of favor and was ultimately left out of the roster that traveled to Qatar. He has earned 29 caps for the national team.
The Colorado Rapids, who finished at the bottom of the Western Conference in 2023, are undergoing a revamp this winter. The club recently appointed Chris Armas as head coach and has already parted ways with key veterans Jack Price and Diego Rubio. It remains uncertain how Steffen would fit into Colorado’s roster, as they currently have the maximum three designated players under contract for 2024: Andreas Maxsø, Kevin Cabral, and Rafael Navarro.
For more in-depth coverage on Zack Steffen’s journey, you can read our article titled “Zack Steffen: ‘I was shocked, I was sad, I was mad, I was heartbroken'”.
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