Kellyn Acosta celebrates a USMNT victory. (USA TODAY Sports)
The Los Angeles Football Club announced Friday that it had acquired U.S. national team midfielder Kellyn Acosta from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $550,000 in General Allocation Money in 2022 and $550,000 in GAM in 2023.
The Rapids could receive up to an additional $400,000 in GAM if certain performance metrics are met and would receive a percentage of a future transfer fee if Acosta is moved outside of MLS or within the league.
“Kellyn is a player that has all the attributes necessary to play how we want in the midfield,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “He provides versatility and ability to help our team immediately. He is in his prime, a fixture in our National Team, and offers the MLS experience we sought in the off-season.”
Acosta 26, is a former MLS all-star who helped Colorado clinch the top seed in the Western Conference in 2021. He started 19 of 21 matches, scoring one goal and registering two assists in 1,718 minutes. He also nwas amed the Rapids 2021 humanitarian of the year.
The Plano, Texas native has become a staple in the USMNT lineup, leading the U.S. with 21 appearances in 2021, the most by a national team player in a calendar year since 1994. Acosta was one of two players to be included on the Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup rosters, starting and playing every minute in both finals.He has earned 45 caps, scoring twice.
Acosta has made 196 MLS regular season appearances since making his MLS debut for FC Dallas as an 18-year-old in 2013. When Acosta was 16, he signed with FC Dallas as a Homegrown player after he joined the Dallas Academy at the Under-13 level.
