Manchester City goalkeeper agrees three-year contract with MLS club

MLS side Colorado Rapids have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City and USA men’s international goalkeeper Zack Steffen, according to reports.

The reigning Premier League champions first signed the now-28-year-old shot-stopper in 2019 from Columbus Crew in a deal worth around $7 million, after Steffen starred for the Major League Soccer side and won the division’s Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2018.

Prior to joining up with Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, Steffen fulfilled a loan deal with German club Fortuna Dusseldorf, and following a difficult spell with Manchester City, joined Middlesbrough on a temporary agreement in the Championship.

With no space within Manchester City’s goalkeeping ranks this season, and the player recovering from a major knee operation during the summer months, Zack Steffen has been forced to review his options, as a return to the USA now seems finalised.

According to the information of The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, The Colorado Rapids have signed Manchester City’s back-up goalkeeper Zack Steffen on an initial three-year contract with an option for a fourth.

The report also reveals that the USA international goalkeeper will not take up a ‘designated player’ spot, meaning he will not be one of three players that would be considered outside their salary cap – which can be achieved by either offering the player higher wages, or by paying a transfer fee.

Pep Guardiola has three goalkeepers at his disposal this season, with Brazil international and number one choice at both club and national team level Ederson excelling with every opportunity under his manager.

Stefan Ortega Moreno acts as back-up to the Brazilian and his impressed throughout his time at Manchester City since joining on a free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld, to the point where clubs from Germany are interested in his services in future transfer windows.

Scott Carson is the understudy to both aforementioned figures, with the veteran Englishman a hugely popular figure within the Manchester City squad, and manager Pep Guardiola often crediting the 38-year-old for his impact at the club.