Aaronson, a bright prospect who could grow into a regular feature for the U.S. Men’s National Team, wanted to move on from Frankfurt and had options in England at the EFL Championship level. The Rapids had their eyes on him passively, but it got real when Aaronson expressed interest in Colorado as a home and a place to nurture his talent.

Aaronson also pointed to the marked gains made by his former Union homegrown colleagues Jack McGlynn and Quinn Sullivan on the domestic scene over the past year or two as evidence that he can continue his own upward trajectory much closer to his loved ones, and in a region perennially lauded for its high quality of life.

The Colorado Rapids have signed USMNT midfielder Paxten Aaronson from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee a source told ESPN was worth up to $8 million.