The Loons are flying down to Colorado for a midweek contest, which means it’s my sacred duty to tell you what you need to know about the Rapids. (You’re welcome.) While Matt Wells’ side is a firmly middle-of-the-table team this year, they’ve got a pair of DPs that can truly give post a challenge for any defensive unit. Today we’re taking a look at star midfielder Paxten Aaronson and new signing Morgan Whittaker, and there’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive in.
Paxten Aaronson
Aaronson came up in the Philadelphia Union Academy program before debuting with their first team as a sub in May 2021. In his first start later that summer, he wasted no time earning a Goal of the Week honor for his stunner against the New England Revolution, and thus the legend was born. (The Union’s Academy program has put out some seriously elite players. Jack McGlynn, Cavan Sullivan, Auston Trusty… hats off to you, Philly.)
Unsurprisingly, Aaronson got scooped up by Europe fast. Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt signed him in 2022, and from there he bounced around the Dutch leagues, both first and second tier. Throughout this time, Aaronson racked up national caps for the United States’ U-20 and U-23 sides, then the senior team in the 2024 Olympics, where he scored twice against New Zealand. (Sorry, Boxy.)
In 2025, he came back to MLS. That may seem a bit backward as far as career progression goes, but for a 23-year-old (21 at the time), returning to a league that would give him consistent minutes and a shot at some trophies could be more conducive to development than a handful of single-season loans in the Dutch leagues. In an interview following his signing, he mentioned that playing a larger role on a team long-term with a big vision for his development was a major draw. He’s got time, and even if he decides to stay in MLS for the rest of his career, he’ll do so as a star player.
And the numbers prove it. Aaronson’s return marked a club-record transfer fee for Colorado, coming in at $7 million. He signed with the Rapids as a DP through 2030 and has quickly become one of the first names you think of when you think Colorado Rapids. Aaronson has made 28 appearances this season, logging more minutes than any other Rapids player by a landslide (2,319). He’s scored seven goals and logged nine assists (2g/3a in his last five matches), proving his mettle as both a goal-scorer and a playmaker.
It’s rare that a midfielder is versatile enough to pull the strings, serve as a second striker, and consistently show up as a defensive threat, but Aaronson does it all. He’s got a knack for playing in tight spaces, dominates one-on-one, and delivers crosses like crazy. Suffice it to say that the Rapids’ strongest all-around asset right now is Paxten Aaronson, especially since the departure of former DP striker Rafael Navarro.
Morgan Whittaker
The Rapids’ other Designated Player is a newer addition. Forward Morgan Whittaker broke another club transfer fee record coming in from Middlesbrough at $10.7 million in this last transfer window. The 25-year-old has spent his entire career in England, making big impacts at Derby County, Swansea City, and Plymouth Argyle, and offers a much-needed energy on the front line for Colorado.
Whittaker made his first regular-season start for the Rapids against the Seattle Sounders on September 19, and what a start it was. His brace earned him a spot in the Team of the Matchday right off the bat, and with both goals coming off Aaronson assists, it’s clear Whittaker fits right into the attacking unit Wells has engineered over the course of the season. Whittaker has easily established himself as starter since that smash-hit debut, and he’ll be a force to look out for this Wednesday when the Loons meet the Rapids on the pitch. It will take a lot to fill Navarro’s shoes, but Colorado’s pair of DPs are a large part of what’s keeping Colorado firmly in the playoff picture.
