The Colorado Rapids acquired winger Morgan Whittaker from England’s Middlesbrough FC on Friday for a club-record inbound transfer fee worth a reported $10.7 million.
The 25-year-old Englishman is under contract through the 2029-30 MLS season with an option for 2030-31, and he will occupy designated player and international roster slots.
He tallied 14 goals and seven assists last season to help Middlesbrough reach the EFL Championship’s playoff final.
“Morgan is a player that is going to bolster our attack immensely this season and for years to come,” Rapids head coach Matt Wells said. “His playing style is exactly what I look for in an attacker, and he has that individual magic that will help elevate us to the next level.
“… This is a player who is going to be a foundational piece for this club, and the supporters will be able to see that as soon as he steps onto the pitch in a Rapids shirt.”
Whittaker has posted 59 goals and 28 assists in 258 appearances across England with stops at Derby County, Lincoln City, Swansea City and Plymouth Argyle before joining Middlesbrough in 2025.
“Morgan is a proven difference-maker who will add outstanding quality and a significant attacking threat to our team,” said Rapids president Padraig Smith. “His ability to both create and score goals from wide areas, combined with his vision, technical quality and decision-making, makes him an excellent fit for Matt’s game model.
“Morgan is entering the prime years of his career, and we believe he can make an immediate and significant impact in MLS. We are delighted to welcome him to Colorado.”
The Whittaker acquisition comes after the Rapids and St. Louis City set an MLS record on Wednesday when Colorado swapped high-scoring forward Rafael Navarro to St. Louis for $12 million. The Rapids also would receive a percentage of a future sale of Navarro’s contract.
That’s the highest dollar amount paid for a player in an MLS trade. St. Louis City could be on the hook for $250,000 more depending on how Navarro performs.
Navarro, a 26-year-old Brazil native, stacked up 38 goals in 97 league matches for the Rapids after joining the organization in 2023 on loan from Brazilian side Palmeiras. Colorado acquired him permanently in 2024. He was a designated player for the Rapids and remains so for St. Louis.
–Field Level Media
