The Colorado Rapids’ back line has taken a major hit.
Sources confirmed to The Denver Post that French club FC Nantes is finalizing a deal to sign Rapids center back Chidozie Awaziem. Family played a role in the move, as Awaziem’s is not in the U.S., sources added.
Awaziem played for Nantes as a 20-year old from 2017-2018, and has seen nine clubs in three continents over the course of his career.
The 28-year-old Nigerian international joined the Rapids last offseason in a move from FC Cincinnati that sent Awaziem and center back partner Ian Murphy to Colorado in exchange for $1 million in General Allocation Money (GAM).
He found an integral role within coach Chris Armas’s system quickly and cemented himself as arguably the team’s best defender. He became a bit of a fan favorite in Colorado with a no-nonsense style defensively, an ability to pull impressive passes from his hat and a kind-hearted demeanor.
He started all 20 matches he played for the Rapids and recorded an assist to Darren Yapi against San Diego FC back in April. He missed a match a few weeks ago for personal reasons.
Wednesday night, in what may have been Awaziem’s final match in a Rapids jersey, he played all 90 minutes in a 3-all thriller, in which the Rapids came all the way back from down 3-0.
Early this season, he was central in a controversy in which LAFC player Sergi Palencia was accused of using a “derogatory term” toward Awaziem in the second match of the Concacaf Champions Cup first round series. The soccer confederation launched an investigation, but concluded the term Awaziem alleged was not used.
More recently, the Rapids agreed to a $1.6 million transfer fee to sign Israeli center back Stav Lemkin from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. The deal was all but finalized, but Lemkin backed out of the transfer and instead went to Dutch side FC Twente, where he’s now playing.
In hindsight, that move was potentially a preemptive succession plan for Awaziem, as it’s highly unlikely the Rapids would spend that sort of money for a bench player or to move Awaziem or Andreas Maxsø to the bench in favor of Lemkin.
On that front, the Rapids are targeting a few options at center back for the MLS secondary transfer window, which begins next Thursday, July 24. There could be more back-line instability, with Saudi Arabian teams having reported interest in Maxsø over the offseason. That option is not off the table, whether it be this window or when his base contract expires after this season (he has a club option for 2026).
Rapids interested in Colombian midfielder Alexis Manyoma
Sources confirmed to The Post that the Rapids are in talks with Argentinian club Estudiantes for 22-year old Colombian midfielder Alexis Manyoma. A deal is far from being struck, but could potentially be a decent grab to begin the transfer window at the right price.
This season, he’s been in and out of Estudiantes’s lineup, with most of his appearances coming off the bench. In 13 of them in 2025, he’s played 390 minutes at a variety of positions, but mostly as a winger. If he were transferred or loaned to Colorado, he’d likely set up shop out wide on a Rapids team with a bevy of central mids and a yearning for more wing production.