Colorado Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita out of 2022 season with torn ACL

Colorado Rapids player Aboubacar Keita has undergone successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, the club announced Thursday. The defender is expected to be out for nine months, missing the 2022 Major League Soccer season entirely.

Keita will begin his rehabilitation in Columbus, Ohio, before returning to Colorado. 

Keita only recently joined the Rapids in an offseason trade with the Columbus Crew for up to $450,000 in General Allocation Money. He had spent three years in Columbus, working himself up through the Crew SC Academy before signing as a Homegrown Player on January 22, 2019.

The 21-year-old recorded 37 overall appearances with the Crew, and won the 2020 MLS Cup and 2021 Campeones Cup. 

Keita failed to make his Colorado Rapids debut ahead of the injury, forcing him to wait until 2023. This is a huge blow for the Rapids, who expected to reinforce their backline to build last year's Western Conference regular-season title.

The defender joins Braian Galvan, who is sidelined until he recovers from an ACL injury as well. 

Beyond injuries, Colorado has seen a turbulent start to their 2022 season. The Rapids were quickly knocked out of the Concacaf Champions League after losing to Guatemalan side Comunicaciones 4-3 on penalties during their Round of 16 match up. 

In the American league, the Western Conference side has seen only one victory. They return to the pitch on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City.