Colorado Rapids: How did Kellyn Acosta get so valuable?

The Colorado Rapids rejected a reported $3 million offer from an unnamed English Championship club. But when did the midfielder get so valuable?

Kellyn Acosta has become a multi-million dollar MLS player after the Colorado Rapids turned down a trade offer for him from an English club. The Acosta offer to came from an unnamed English Championship team hungry for a talented young defensive midfielder.

English scouts got a look at Acosta with the U.S. Men’s National Team in mid-November. Although not starting, observers noted flashes of brilliance in games where he did appear.

Acosta and scouts agree that he fits the pitch well in central midfield, in a 4-4-2 diamond formation. Acosta adds, it should be a tight diamond where he can help control movement and opposition.

Acosta debuted at age 18 with FC Dallas. He also made the U.S. Men’s National Team and played in CONCACAF Gold Cup. At 22, he decided he wasn’t motivated in Frisco, Texas anymore. That’s when the Rapids picked him up in exchange for Dominique Badji. But that’s not the interesting part.

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Just this January, the Rapids declined a $3 million transfer offer from an unnamed English Championship club. There is still a couple of days to run in the English transfer window, but the Rapids will hang tough for a greater fee.

It’s likely negotiations could continue. American Soccer Now emphasized that Acosta automatically qualifies for a UK work permit. He earned that qualification through participation in World Cup qualifying games and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. So there is great value in an English club pursuing him. But the question of price still remains: Is Acosta a $3 million-plus player?

For the Rapids, any deal gets reduced a bit as they have to turn some of the money over to FC Dallas, which retained a percentage of interest in Acosta after the trade. But just how high are they valuing Acosta?

He played in 12 games with Colorado last season, scoring two goals and totaling three assists. He averaged a tackle and a key pass per game in those appearances. While specializing as a defensive midfielder, he still got off two shots per game and completed six clearances.

His statistics are fine. But they are nothing special and it remains unclear whether he would be able to handle the jump up in competition from MLS to the Championship.

Maybe no one can offer Colorado Rapids enough, since they have to share the transfer payment with FC Dallas. Perhaps Colorado have valued his impact higher than his price. Last season, he showed the Rapids an immediate, positive impact. Why could he not build on that?

With what Acosta has to give Colorado Rapids this season, whatever transfer money’s on the board right now is chump change. Whether that is an accurate valuation of the midfielder, though, is another question altogether.