The day has finally come! The Colorado Rapids have finished a deal with the Columbus Crew for centerback and fan favorite Lalas Abubakar.

Abubakar joined the Rapids on loan as Conor Casey took over and was a key piece to turning things around in Colorado. He became the club’s Defensive Player of the Year, making 22 appearances for Colorado (all from the start).

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Lalas back,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive Vice President & General Manager. “Since joining us last year, Lalas has been an integral part of our team and has established himself as a top defender in MLS. We’re excited to have him with us from the start next year and build on the exceptional season he had in 2019.”

The best part? They got a pretty good deal out of it: The Rapids gave the Crew $400,000 in GAM and a 2020 international roster spot.