Rapids sign center backs Chidozie Awaziem, Ian Murphy in MLS half-day trade window

Nearly a year after signing three former U.S. Men’s National Team stars, Pádraig Smith and the Rapids are still cooking.

During the MLS half-day trade window, which went from 7-11 a.m. Monday, Colorado made two moves that could cross off huge items for the club’s winter needs.

Announced officially by the club after the window closed, the Rapids signed former FC Cincinnati center backs Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy for $1 million in General Allocation Money (GAM), with up to $200,000 in conditional GAM if they hit certain performance metrics in Colorado. A sell-on clause is also applied, meaning Cincinnati would receive an unspecified portion of the money for any future transfer of either player.

Awaziem is signed through the 2025 season with options for 2026 and 2027. Murphy’s contract runs through 2025 with an option for 2026.

Awaziem first hit the MLS late last season after star defender Matt Miazga went down with a season-ending injury. Earlier in his career, the 6-foot-2 27-year-old spent multiple seasons in top-5 European leagues, including La Liga (Leganés) and Ligue 1 (Nantes). He also has 33 caps for the Nigerian national team, which includes minutes in the 2018 World Cup and in the 2019 and 2024 African Cup of Nations.

He also had multiple stops in the Primeira Liga in Portugal, where he made 26 appearances alongside current Rapids defender Reggie Cannon with Boavista during the 2020-21 season.

Last season, he started in all 10 MLS games he played for Cincinnati and recorded three assists.

Murphy, the 14th overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, has spent all three of his professional seasons in Cincinnati, starting 23 of 31 regular-season matches last season.

Last week, Colorado declined the 2025 options of fan favorite Lalas Abubakar and Michael Edwards while openly stating that center backs would be a top target this offseason after the Rapids gave up a concerning 60 goals in 2024.

When roster decisions were announced, the Rapids also said they were in discussions to possibly bring Abubakar and Edwards back on new contracts, but that just became less likely with two higher-quality defenders inbound.

As it stands, Awaziem and Designated Player Andreas Maxsø are the likely starting center backs for Colorado next season, with Murphy being the first option off the bench.

Additionally, sources confirmed to The Denver Post on Monday that the Rapids and Philadelphia Union agreed to a trade that sends eight draft picks over the next three years to Colorado in exchange for $350,000 in GAM and another $250,000 in conditional GAM. With the move, the Rapids own all of Philadelphia’s draft picks through the 2027 SuperDraft, including next week’s No. 8 pick.

In total, the Rapids now own eight picks in the 2025 SuperDraft, which takes place Dec. 20, and six picks in both the 2026 and 2027 drafts.

The Rapids are big believers in the draft — third overall pick in Moïse Bombito fetched $7.7 million after two years of development this summer — and have stocked up picks for the foreseeable future with this move and other previous moves.

The Rapids could make all 20 selections over the next three years, but they’re more likely to trade up for a higher pick or use them in other intra-league trades.

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