Not many 21-year-old’s can say they’re closing in on 100-career MLS appearances, however Colorado Rapids ahead Darren Yapi is a kind of uncommon exceptions.
Yapi simply accomplished his third full season with the Rapids in 2025, delivering a serious leap in manufacturing for the Western Convention membership. The homegrown attacker contributed a career-best eight objectives in all competitions, which ranked because the third-most amongst Rapids gamers this 12 months.
Regardless of Yapi’s greatest efforts, the Rapids didn’t make the MLS Cup Playoffs, resulting in the entrance workplace parting methods with head coach Chris Armas. Yapi was happy together with his contributions within the squad this season and is hoping that this 12 months is a springboard to additional success in 2026.
“Sadly our season ended early, however I’m good now and it was good to simply get a while off,” Yapi informed SBI in an interview. “I’ve been engaged on my sport and simply getting my health again up once more.
“I feel this 12 months took loads out of me, nevertheless it was resulting from plenty of onerous work after which simply being affected person,” Yapi added. “I really feel like each group on this league has a DP striker so I simply needed to anticipate my alternative. I used to be a bit discouraged to start with however I simply needed to maintain going, maintain working. I feel this 12 months was step and I simply need to go on the market and do it once more.”
Yapi debuted for the primary group again in 2022 and has since featured in each MLS and MLS NEXT Professional. He’s logged 93 first-team appearances over the previous 4 years, along with making one other 17 appearances for Rapids 2 within the developmental league.
The development of MLS NEXT Professional has benefitted younger gamers like Yapi, who can use the league for a approach to play frequently week in and week out. Whereas his first-team function has grown in the previous few years, Yapi credited the significance of MLS NEXT Professional had in enhancing his sport.
“I feel it takes mentality and taking from each expertise earlier than taking that leap to the primary group. It’s tremendous essential,” Yapi mentioned. “We’ve seen plenty of guys make that leap from MLS NEXT Professional to MLS and and I really feel like these are the blokes that simply take that have for what it’s and simply work their butts off to arrange for the primary group. As a younger participant, you simply need to go in with the fitting mentality.”
Yapi is considered one of a number of American gamers that performed massive roles within the Rapids squad this previous 12 months. From U.S. males’s nationwide group goalkeeper Zack Steffen to defenders Reggie Cannon and Sam Vines, the listing of connections that Yapi has made in Colorado continues to develop.
Though he’s youthful than plenty of his American teammates within the squad, Yapi affirmed the significance that many have had on his profession thus far.
“Zack [Steffen] is somebody I speak to loads,” Yapi mentioned. “Identical with different guys like Reggie [Cannon], [Sam Vines] Vinesy, these are guys which have performed overseas and have discovered a lot from prime gamers. For them to simply give me recommendation, it helps me loads.”
Though Yapi’s membership marketing campaign got here to an finish in November, his function as a U.S. youth nationwide group participant didn’t. Yapi featured twice for the U.S. Beneath-21 males’s nationwide group final month, logging 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Denmark earlier than taking part in 16 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Serbia.
A former USMNT U-17 and U-20 participant, Yapi has continued to take steps in his worldwide profession and is now knocking on the door of probably being a senior participant for 2026 and past. Whereas there are nonetheless many strikers within the USMNT’s pecking order, Yapi is able to go if the chance presents itself.
“I feel it was fairly good to have that U-21 camp as a result of my age group wasn’t capable of expertise with the World Cup being cancelled through the COVID interval,” Yapi mentioned. “I feel it was fairly dope that the U.S. did that and having among the 2004’s all along with some actually good younger gamers who had been all within the 05-06 vary. These experiences are good experiences to have, much like that of NEXT Professional.
“I’m excited, as a younger man, I feel should you keep sharp and are prepared, who is aware of what may occur,” he added about the potential for being within the World Cup combine subsequent summer season. “I’m going to enter 2026 with that mentality and be there if my nation wants me.”
Yapi’s time with the USMNT U-20’s allowed him to work with present San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas. Varas, who was Yapi’s head coach with the U-20’s, led the enlargement aspect to prime spot within the Western Convention through the common season and a berth into the Western Convention Closing this fall.
San Diego FC will now be taking part in within the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup subsequent February, turning into the most recent enlargement aspect to impress in Yr No. 1 of their MLS existence.
Yapi praised Varas and new England Revolution head coach Marko Mitrovic, each of whom who had important roles inside U.S. Soccer earlier than their jumps to MLS.
“I feel they deserve taking that subsequent step of their profession,” Yapi mentioned about Varas and Mitrovic. “I really feel like they’re two nice coaches and I’m simply blissful for them. From what I’ve seen from them, I feel these are nice alternatives for them. In soccer, you get to work with lots of people so seeing them get these alternatives are nice.”
Yapi’s 2026 season with the Rapids may doubtlessly be his final with the membership, particularly with the prospect of constructing the transfer to Europe at all times on the playing cards. Many former MLS homegrowns have developed in the USA earlier than shifting overseas comparable to Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Ricardo Pepi, and Aidan Morris.
Whereas his focus stays strictly on serving to the Rapids bounce again subsequent season, Yapi does have desires of getting abroad in the future.
“I feel if you see among the prime guys like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie over there, it simply additional boosts your dream of taking part in over there,” Yapi mentioned. “It’s a dream of mine and for lots of different younger gamers as nicely. For now, I simply wish to maintain working, attempting to remain constant and have one other good season.”