COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Friday, January 25, 2013) – The Colorado Rapids have acquired forward Charles Eloundou, an 18-year-old attacking player and member of the Cameroonian National Team, in a special lottery held at Major League Soccer headquarters on Friday morning. Eloundou, currently with Cameroon ahead of their friendly match against Tanzania on February 6, will join the Rapids in the coming weeks.

“This is an exciting acquisition for the Rapids, getting a player who has attracted attention from top clubs in Europe,” said Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo. “He’s got great pace, strength and skill, and at just 18 he’s already in the set up for the full national team of Cameroon. We’re looking forward to welcoming him into our squad.”

One of the top young players in Africa, Eloundou was a star for the Cameroon U-20 National Team in 2012, scoring eight goals in seven matches during U-20 African Nations Cup qualifying. Those performances led him to be included with the full Cameroonian National Team for the Nehru Cup in India, where he played four matches. Eloundou joins the Rapids from Cameroonian first division club Unisport, where he scored nine goals in 20 matches last season. The forward originally made his debut for the Cameroon U-17 National Team in 2009 at just 14 years old, playing regularly with the side through 2011.

Eloundou was signed last week by Major League Soccer on a one-year loan with an option to buy from AS Fortuna in Cameroon. After being unable to secure a visa before the MLS Combine and SuperDraft, he was made eligible for MLS clubs in a special lottery, which the Rapids won over Real Salt Lake and D.C. United.

The Rapids will see their first competitive action of the 2013 preseason next week when they travel to Arizona to participate in the Desert Friendlies presented by Tucson FC, followed by the Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge against Chivas USA on February 15.

Charles Eloundou

Full Name: Charles Bertrand Etoundi Eloundou

Number: TBD

Position: Forward

Born: December 4, 1994

Hometown: Yaoundé, Cameroon

Citizenship: Cameroon

Height: 5’7”

Weight: 155

Transaction: Acquired by the Rapids in an MLS lottery on January 25, 2013