Colorado Rapids ink Homegrown Contract with 19-year-old midfielder Oliver Larraz

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids announced the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Oliver Larraz to a two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for an additional two years.

Larraz becomes the 13th Rapids Academy product to sign an MLS Homegrown contract with Colorado and the ninth since 2017.

“We’re delighted to extend a Homegrown Player contract to a promising young talent like Ollie,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “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. We look forward to seeing him continue to develop and contribute to our club.”

"It's obviously a dream come true and everything I've ever wanted since I first joined the club." pic.twitter.com/UK0SMEay0L

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 3, 2021

A Denver native, Larraz started his playing career with the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club during the 2009-10 season before joining the Colorado Rapids Academy in 2014. Larraz played four seasons with the Rapids Academy, often playing several age groups above his own, and was named the club’s Academy Player of the Year in 2015. He also spent time with local youth side Real Colorado.

The 19-year-old has been involved with the Rapids First Team for several years. He featured for the Rapids in a preseason friendly ahead of the 2019 MLS season and was a regular at First Team training sessions this past season.

[+READ: Colorado Rapids sign 16-year-old Academy product Darren Yapi]

In 2019, Larraz played for German club Duisburg U-19s in the U-19 Bundesliga West, making four appearances for the side. Larraz also spent time with the FC Barcelona Residency Academy in Arizona in January and February 2020.

TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids sign midfielder Oliver Larraz to a two-year Homegrown Player contract with a club option for an additional two years on March 3, 2021.

Oliver Larraz
Pronunciation: lah-RAZ
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 140
Birthdate: September 16, 2001
Birthplace: Denver, CO
Nationality: USA