St. Louis City nearing record deal for Rapids’ Rafael Navarro: Sources

St. Louis City is closing in on a blockbuster deal to acquire Brazilian forward Rafael Navarro from the Colorado Rapids, according to multiple sources briefed on the situation.

St. Louis is expected to pay in the region of $12 million, those sources told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet finalized, which would be a new record deal between MLS clubs. While broad terms are set, multiple details still must be ironed out to complete the trade.

If no further progress is made in the next 24 hours, Navarro will be available for selection for the Rapids against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, sources added.

St. Louis made Navarro its top target this summer and had been working on a deal for a long time. The club is rebuilt under head coach Yoann Damet, and Navarro is viewed as the perfect profile to elevate the attack.

The fee would easily be a club record for St. Louis. The Rapids just set a club-record departure with Lucas Herrington heading to Hull City for an initial $17 million fee earlier this summer.

The current MLS club-to-club record is FC Cincinnati’s acquisition of Evander from the Portland Timbers for a $12 million cash trade ahead of the 2025 season. The fee for Navarro is expected to trump that and easily set a club record for St. Louis. The Rapids just set a club-record departure with Lucas Herrington heading to Hull City for an initial $17 million fee earlier this summer.

The Rapids tried to sign Navarro to an extension earlier this year, but when it was clear that wasn’t going to happen, the club had to acquiesce to a departure. If Navarro moves within the league, the team can convert $3 million of the fee to GAM while opening the DP spot.

Colorado’s attack needed improvements in Matt Wells’ system, and the club will completely overhaul the group. The Rapids had already been in the market for a DP winger and can now sign two, or use that spot elsewhere in the attack if Navarro departs for St. Louis as expected.

Israeli international forward Sayed Abu Farkhi is close to joining on a $6 million deal via the U-22 initiative, The Athletic reported earlier this week. He and Darren Yapi are natural options at center forward in the interim as the club looks to get further deals done.

Navarro, 26, initially joined the Rapids on loan in the summer of 2023. Over the last three seasons, he’s been one of the more consistent goal scorers in MLS, including a career-best 15 goals in 2024. He has 11 goals and five assists this season.

The Rapids face Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. St. Louis hosts FC Dallas on Sunday.