Columbus Crew acquires up to $450,000 in allocation money from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Aboubacar Keita

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew today announced that the Club has acquired up to $450,000 in allocation money from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for defender Aboubacar Keita. The Crew will receive a guaranteed $300,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Rapids in 2022, and up to an additional $150,000 in GAM if certain performance incentives are met. As part of the trade, the Crew will retain a portion of the fee if Keita is transferred abroad.

“From the time he joined the Academy in 2016 to helping us capture MLS Cup in 2020 and the Campeones Cup last September, Bouba’s hard work and dedication on and off the field has been truly appreciated. We wish him all the best in Colorado,” said Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. 

Signed to a Homegrown contract on January 22, 2019, Keita made his professional debut on July 3 of his rookie year, going the full 90 minutes in a match against Real Salt Lake. Keita was a part of the Club’s 2020 MLS Cup title run and over the course of three seasons, started 28 of the 37 MLS matches in which he appeared. The Crew Academy product started two of the Club’s Concacaf Champions League matches in 2021 and went the full 90 minutes in the Crew’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the 2021 Campeones Cup.

TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew acquires up to $450,000 in Allocation Money from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for defender Aboubacar Keita. The Crew receives a guaranteed $300,000 in General Allocation Money and up to $150,000 in conditional GAM.