Update: The Rapids made the news official on Friday evening.
The Colorado Rapids are close to signing former Houston, Vancouver and Orlando attacker Giles Barnes from Liga MX side Leon, a source has told MLSsoccer.com.
The source said that Barnes and the Rapids are putting the finishing touches on a deal that will keep him in Colorado through the end of the season with a club option for 2019. Targeted Allocation Money will not be used in the transaction.
Barnes, 29, left MLS to sign with Leon after having his option declined by Orlando following the 2017 season. He made just three Copa MX appearances in his six months with Leon and didn’t play a single minute for the club in Liga MX.
Born and raised in England, Barnes first moved to MLS late in 2012, when he signed with the Houston Dynamo. He recorded 31 goals and 14 assists in 113 regular season appearances with the Dynamo before being traded to Vancouver midway through 2016. He didn’t last long in Canada, appearing in just 10 games for the Whitecaps before being sent to Orlando in exchange for Brek Shea in February 2017. He tallied three goals and two assists in 34 appearances and 23 starts for the Lions last season.
The Rapids made room for Barnes by waiving forward Joe Mason, who will now return to English club Wolverhampton. Colorado used Targeted Allocation Money to acquire Mason on a season-long loan from Wolves in February. The 26-year-old Englishman scored three goals in 14 league appearances and nine starts for the club.
A Jamaican international, Barnes holds a US green card, meaning he won’t occupy an international spot on Colorado’s roster. The Rapids now have one open international spot due to Mason’s departure.
Colorado play at FC Dallas on Saturday (9 pm ET | TV & streaming info).
