Colorado Rapids Make Record Signing In Djordje Mihailovic

The Colorado Rapids have signed their club record signing of USMNT attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. The deal is reported to be just north of $3m (report from Tom Bogert). Mihailovic returns to MLS after one season away playing for AZ Alkmaar. The 25 year old will be on a Designated Player contract for the Colorado Rapids, joining Rafael Navarro and Kevin Cabral on the roster as DPs. Mihailovic has 180 career games between AZ Alkmaar, CF Montreal, and the Chicago Fire. In those games he has 25 goals, 35 assists, and won the 2021 Canadian Championship. For the USMNT he has 11 caps with 3 goals and 3 assists. After failing to gain consistent minutes with AZ, Mihailovic now looks to get a ton of minutes back in MLS for Colorado. 

It will be interesting to see where Mihailovic lines up for Chris Armas’s side. Armas likes to play a 4-2-3-1 formation and I could see the American fitting into two spots for his side. Mihailovic could come in and play as a more traditional attacking midfielder, in between the two wingers. He could also play out on the left wing, tracking more inside during in-game action. I personally would like to see him playing as a traditional attacking midfielder with Omir Fernandez on the left and Kevin Cabral on the right. I think this would allow Cole Bassett to play as more of a “shuttler” next to Connor Ronan in the deeper midfield block. Either way, Mihailovic is going to play for Colorado in 2024. Two seasons ago in Montreal he was one of the league’s best midfielders and now that talent will be headed to a new look Rapids side.