Commerce City, CO – The Colorado Rapids have made Panamanian striker Gabriel Torres the first Designated Player in the club's history.
Torres will join the Rapids upon receipt of his P-1 work visa, and he will occupy an international spot on Colorado's roster.
The 24-year-old tied for the tournament lead with five goals at this summer's Gold Cup as he helped Panama reach the final of the competition.
"Signing Gabriel Torres as our club's first Designated Player is a historic moment, but it's most exciting because he's the right player to help this team win," said Rapids technical director Paul Bravo. "We want to thank the senior management at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and Stan Kroenke for their support in bringing Torres to Colorado. We're excited for him to join the squad."
Torres has netted seven goals in 40 appearances for Panama during his international career, and he is coming off of a club season that saw him tally 21 goals for Zamora FC of Venezuela, which captured the first-division title.
"I'm happy to join the Colorado Rapids, and I will give my all to this club," Torres said. "Coach [Pareja] has had confidence in me from the beginning. He told me about the team and the project, and that got my attention. It's why I'm here, looking to do the right things. I'll give my best to this organization and look to score many goals to help us win games."
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