Oliver Larraz signed a two-year Homegrown Player contract with a two-year club option, the Colorado Rapids announced on Wednesday. Larraz, 19 years old, is the 13th player from the Rapids Academy to sign a Homegrown contract, and the ninth since 2017. 

Larraz began his club soccer with the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club during the 2009-2010 season. He made the Rapids academy team in 2014. He has appeared for various Rapids youth teams over the years. He was named the Rapids Academy Player of the Year in 2015. 

He trained with the Rapids first team during preseason in 2019 and appeared in a friendly. He also spent some time training in Germany and played for Duisburg U19s during the 2019 season. 

The midfielder was committed to join Portland for the 2020 class. He took a gap year where he trained in Europe as well as joined the Barca Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. 

“Ollie has worked hard to progress as player during his time in the academy and he has earned this opportunity with his consistent performances while training with our First Team throughout 2020,” Rapids General Manager Padraig Smith said in a press release. “We look forward to seeing him continue to develop and contribute to our club.” 

Larraz was one of five players invited to the Rapids’ preseason camp prior to signing the contract on Wednesday. Academy players Cullen Wilkerson and Darren Yapi were also invited to preseason training camp with the Rapids first team. 

Photo: mlssoccer.com

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