Veteran striker Kei Kamara is heading to the Colorado Rapids.
In Tuesday's 2018 MLS Expansion Draft, FC Cincinnati selected D.C. United forward Darren Mattocks, FC Dallas midfielder Roland Lamah, Houston Dynamo midfielder Eric Alexander and New York Red Bulls defender Hassan Ndam.
Kamara was FCC’s second selection but was immediately traded to the Rapids for an international roster spot.
The 34-year-old earned a team-high $1 million last season, leading the club with 17 goals and six assists in all competitions with Vancouver. Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reports that the Rapids have signed Kamara to a two-year deal worth $750,000 a year. Carlisle adds that with incentives, Kamara could earn closer to $1 million per year.
Since joining the MLS in 2006, Kamara has played in 314 games, scoring 112 goals with 44 assists. In his 15-year-career, he has played with the Columbus Crew, San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City, New England Revolution, and Vancouver Whitecaps.
A native of Kenema, Sierra Leone, Kamara is one of only 11 players to have scored 100 goals in MLS history. In 2015, Kamara tied for top scorer in the MLS with 22 goals, losing to Sebastian Giovinco on the Golden Boot on assists.
In the Expansion Draft, Cincinnati could choose up to five players but couldn’t take more than one player from one team.
MLS teams can protect 11 players between their Senior, Supplemental, and Reserve Rosters ahead of the draft. Designated Players are not automatically protected. FCC did not select anyone from the Colorado Rapids list of available players.
The five teams who had players selected by LAFC in last year’s expansion draft were exempt from this year’s draft. That list includes the Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC.
FCC head coach Alan Koch announced at the end of the draft that they had also acquired defender Greg Garza from 2018 MLS Champions Atlanta United FC.
