Orlando City Deals Rafael Santos to Colorado Rapids for General Allocation Money

The Rafael Santos era is over at Orlando City. The club announced today that it has sent the Brazilian left back to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $125,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM). The club could receive an additional $200,000 in GAM if certain unnamed performance-based metrics are met. The Lions also retain a sell-on percentage in the deal in case the Rapids transfers Santos out.

“We’re grateful to Rafa for his dedication, professionalism and contributions to the club both on and off the pitch during his time with us,” Orlando City General Manager & Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “We wish him all the best in this next stage of his career.”

The native of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil originally signed a two-year deal with Orlando City on Jan. 5, 2023, joining the club from Cruzeiro in Brazil’s top flight. That contract included two option years. The Lions picked up the 27-year-old’s 2025 option on Dec. 5, 2024.

In his three seasons with Orlando City, Santos made 96 appearances (67 starts) in all competitions, scoring two goals and adding 10 assists. In 17 MLS appearances in 2025 (six starts), Santos did not have a goal contribution.

Prior to joining Orlando City, Santos had played in 92 competitive matches as a pro, scoring five goals and adding eight assists. He developed in the academy of Brazilian side Mirassol. His professional career began in 2017 with Mirassol, when he scored once in 16 appearances. He was loaned to Cruzeiro’s U-20 side in 2018 and played in one match before joining that club’s senior squad permanently for the 2019 season. Santos played in 10 matches with Cruzeiro in 2019 and then went on a series of loans from 2020 through 2022, playing for Chapecoense, Inter de Limeira, Ponte Preta, and Coritiba.

His most productive stint was 26 matches in 2021 with Ponte Preta, when he scored three times in 26 appearances. While with Chapecoense, he won a Serie B title during the pandemic-delayed 2020 season.

What It Means for Orlando City

After two seasons of slow starts and good finishes, Santos had clearly fallen out of favor with Oscar Pareja during the 2025 season. He started five of Orlando’s first six matches of the season at left back (Kyle Smith started the other) before being replaced by center back David Brekalo, who has continued to be the first choice at that position. His defense was poor early in the season for the third straight year, requiring the change. Santos’ last start when all three center backs were available for selection came back on May 7 in a U.S. Open Cup match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Although he had played well off the bench in recent weeks when the Lions needed offensive help late in matches, it was clearly not enough. The club signed Spanish left back Adrian Marin eight days ago, which seemed to signal Santos’ exit, as he has only one more option year on his current contract.

Santos is a good crosser and is adept in the attacking third. His struggles in the defensive third were an issue, especially in the first half of each of his seasons in Orlando. At 27, he’s unlikely to suddenly improve that part of his game, but perhaps a change of scenery is what he needs to light a fire under him to make strides in that area, or maybe another staff will have more success developing that weakness. The Lions will hope he can get on the pitch and contribute for Colorado, triggering the additional GAM metrics.

Meanwhile, Orlando will see what Marin can bring to the back line, and the club now has a few extra Garber Bucks to spend.