Sounders FC announced on Mar. 28 that it has traded midfielder Georgi Minoungou to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $1,000,000 in General Allocation Money for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The club will also retain a percentage of any future trade or transfer above a certain amount. The transaction was completed before Major League Soccer’s Primary Transfer Window closed.
The move is significant as Minoungou has been with Sounders FC since joining Tacoma Defiance in 2022 and later moving up to the First Team in August of 2024. During his time with Seattle, he made 51 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing seven assists. Last season, he played an important role by contributing two goals and four assists over 32 matches.
“We are grateful for Georgi and all that he has brought to our organization since he joined Tacoma Defiance in 2022,” said Sounders FC General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “We are proud of how he has developed and moved up the pathway within our system and wish him all the best with Colorado.”
Minoungou originally played three seasons with Tacoma Defiance at the MLS NEXT Pro level, recording four goals and six assists over 56 appearances while helping them reach the playoffs each year. He earned his first MLS assist against Columbus Crew on September 7, 2024, followed by his first goal versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC on October 2, 2024. In addition to league play, Minoungou helped Seattle win Leagues Cup 2025 by drawing a penalty in the final against Inter Miami CF before a crowd of more than sixty-nine thousand fans at Lumen Field.
“Georgi has always played hard and put the team first since he first joined the club,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “We are thankful for all that he has brought to the team and can’t wait to see how he continues to grow with Colorado.”
Internationally, Minoungou has nine caps for Burkina Faso with three international goals—including performances at both Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches—and is currently away on national duty during FIFA’s March window.
With a break due to international fixtures, Sounders FC will resume its regular season schedule on April 4 when it faces Houston Dynamo.
