Colorado Rapids announced on Friday the signing of defender Maynor Figueroa.

The Honduran international, who played in the English Premier League for Hull City last season, will be added to the club’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.



Targeted allocation money was used to acquire Figueroa but, per MLS and club policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. To facilitate this signing, Rapids acquired an international roster slot from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for general allocation money.

The versatile 32-year-old has operated at left back or center back during his last eight seasons in the Premier League. Initially, he joined Wigan Athletic on loan in 2008 from Honduran side Olimpia but the deal was made permanent the following year.

In total, Figueroa played 200 games for Wigan, scoring six goals. He has an FA Cup winners’ medal but missed the 2013 final against Manchester City. However he did start every other game in the competition that season and scored the opening goal in the 3-0 win over Everton in the Sixth Round.

He moved to Hull City that summer and played 45 games over two seasons before his release in the summer.

Figueroa has amassed 113 caps for Honduras, scoring four goals. He has represented his country at three CONCACAF Gold Cups and started all three games in the 2015 tournament last month, including the 2-1 defeat to the U.S. He also appeared at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups plus the 2012 Olympics.

“We have been tracking Maynor for some time so we are delighted to have finally secured his services,” said Paul Bravo, VP of Soccer Operations and Technical Director. “He has vast experience in one of the best leagues in the world and his versatility will be an asset to us during the second half of the season. We look forward to welcoming him to our club.”

In addition, Dominique Badji has been loaned to the Charlotte Independence, the club’s USL affiliate, for the remainder of the season, while Ben Newnam has been waived.



The Colorado Rapids will host 2015 MLS All-Stars Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay plus the rest of the Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night (7:00 p.m. MT). For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.ColoradoRapids.com or call 303-825-GOAL.



Transactions: Colorado Rapids (MLS) signs Maynor Figueroa using targeted allocation money; Colorado Rapids acquire internal roster slot from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for general allocation money; Colorado Rapids loan Dominique Badji to USL’s Charlotte Independence for the remainder of the season; Colorado Rapids waive Ben Newnam