Club deals long-tenured Powers

The Rapids traded midfielder Dillon Powers to Orlando City for midfielder Luis Gil and $100,000 in targeted allocation money, the clubs announced Thursday.

Powers, the Rapids’ longest-tenured player, was shipped to the Lions just before the summer transfer window closed Wednesday.

“We are very excited to welcome Luis to the club,” Rapids sporting director and interim general manager Padraig Smith said in a news release. “We’re pleased to be able to bring in a creative, forward-thinking midfielder like Luis who can integrate quickly and add depth to our attacking group.”

Gil, 23, made his MLS debut with Real Salt Lake in 2011 and played with the Rapids’ Rocky Mountain rivals through 2015, when he made a move to Queretaro of Mexico’s Liga MX.

Gil was loaned in April to Orlando City, where he reunited with former RSL coach Jason Kreis. Orlando City committed to paying $100,000 in targeted allocation money (TAM) to Real Salt Lake for Gil’s MLS rights in the April loan. As part of the trade, the Rapids will owe RSL the $100,000 in TAM.

Gil is on a season-long loan from Queretaro. The Rapids said they have the option to buy Gil from Liga MX at season’s end. They also could renegotiate the price or decline the option.

Gil has played in 17 games (six starts) this season for Orlando City and has been unable to find the scoresheet. He has 11 goals and nine assists in 151 MLS games (95 starts). He has two caps with the U.S. men’s national team.

Powers, 26, was selected by the Rapids out of Notre Dame in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. He went on to win the MLS rookie of the year award, scoring five goals and adding six assists in 30 games (29 starts) that season.

He leaves the Rapids having made 136 league appearances (116 starts), notching 14 goals and 26 assists.

“For the past five years, Dillon has played an important role in the development of our club, both on and off the field,” Smith said. “His service will not be forgotten, and on behalf of everyone here at the club, we wish him nothing but the best as he begins this new chapter of his career.”

According to the latest salary figures released by the MLS players union, Powers is earning $325,000 this year, while Gil is being paid $144,000.

Orlando City said it will keep Gil’s salary on its books, while the Rapids will keep Powers’ salary on theirs for the remainder of the 2017 season.