The Colorado Rapids signed defender Lalas Abubakar to a new deal through the 2024 season with a club option for an additional year.
“We’re delighted to secure Lalas’ future in Burgundy,” Rapids executive vice president and general manager Padraig Smith said in a news release on Tuesday. “Lalas has been an integral part of our defense during his two seasons with the club and we look forward to seeing him anchor our backline for several years to come.”
Abubakar, who turns 26 on Dec. 25, has started 40 games with the Rapids since joining the team during the 2019 campaign. He scored one goal in 2020 and finished second in the MLS with 24 blocks.
He has been named Colorado’s Defender of the Year in each of the past two seasons.
The Ghana international launched his MLS career with the Columbus Crew, appearing in 31 games and scoring two goals from 2017-19. He was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Dayton.
(Field Level Media)
