By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Sounders FC trade Josh Atencio to Colorado Rapids

The Seattle Sounders traded rising star Josh Atencio to the Colorado Rapids for $1.6 million in General Allocation Money ( $650,000 in 2025 and 2026) and an additional $300,000 in  GAM if specific performance metrics are met. Atencio The Bellevue native joined the  Sounders FC Academy in  2016 and began his professional career with the Tacoma Defiance in 2019. Atencio started  26 of 29 games in his three years with the Defiance

FIRST TEAM SHOT

In 2020, Atencio signed with the first team and appeared in 111 matches across various competitions for the club. A big, tall, and smooth midfielder, Atencio never received consistent first-team minutes, which stagnated his growth.  His size was a bonus when defending ariel battles and set pieces. His size and average speed were a detriment when it came to moving in transition. The Sounder’s switch to a transition team with three central defenders calls for quick, fast and attack-minded midfielder. The growth of Obed Vargas, the insertion of Cristian Roldan in the center of the pitch, and the re-signing of  Albert Rusnâk and  Joao Paulo made Atencio expendable.

“We want to sincerely thank Josh for his time with the Sounders organization, from his early days in our academy to his contributions at the First Team level. He’s been a dedicated professional and a great representative of our club,” said Sounders FC General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “Part of our commitment to player development is ensuring that each individual has the right opportunity to maximize their potential. While we always strive to create those opportunities in Seattle, we also recognize that sometimes a fresh start can be the best path forward. We’re pleased to have worked with Josh to find a situation where he can continue to grow, and we wish him nothing but success in Colorado.”

MOVE TO  DEFENDER

When head coach Brian Schmetzer announced that  Atencio would switch from midfield to centerback as a preseason experiment, suspicions arose.  The move looked good on paper. Atencio’s average midfield ball skills would translate to superior as a center back. One has to figure something went wrong with a move, or the Sounders received an offer they could not refuse.  It was probably a little bit of both . The one drawback would be if  Paulo and Rusnák have health issues. The move also gives Danny Leyva a chance for more playing time.

DEAL DETAILS

Sounders FC today announced that it has traded midfielder Josh Atencio to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $650,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) and $650,000 in 2026 GAM, as well as up to an additional $300,000 of GAM if certain performance metrics are met. Seattle also retains a percentage of any future transfer fee if Atencio is moved outside of MLS or within the league.

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