Looking to add to their attack, the Colorado Rapids announced on Friday they have signed forward Kevin Doyle.
The 31-year-old, currently playing at English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, signed a two-and-a-half year deal that begins on July 1. The Rapids will have a club option for 2018.
“Kevin’s track record speaks for itself,” said Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni in a team statement. “We are confident that he will add quality to the side with his own play but his intelligence, experience and professionalism will also bring the best out of others.
“As we continue to build for the future, Kevin will help us maximize our potential both on and off the field.”
“We are truly excited to add Kevin to our roster,” added Paul Bravo, vice president of soccer operations and technical director. “We believe he can bring a great deal of experience to our squad having played in the Premier League and at the highest level of international football. We really believe that he will be a difference-maker for us over the course of the next three seasons. His ability to help us in all areas of the offense will be invaluable."
Doyle, an Irish international, has played his entire professional career to date in Ireland and England. Starting out at St. Patrick's Athletic, he then moved to Cork City and stayed in his native country until 2005, when he made the move to Reading. With Wolves since 2009, he's also spent recent stints on loan at Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace, playing in the English Premier League earlier this season.
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Wolves are currently battling for a promotion place to the Premier League for next season, and Doyle said, "To be involved in the current squad that is on an exciting run is now my only focus, as it would mean so much to me to see us get back to the Premier League."
The striker also expressed his excitement in moving to MLS, and noted in the statement, “I know from talking to Robbie Keane that MLS is a great league to play in and I look forward to being another top Irish player there."
The Rapids had an opening at striker that Doyle's signing appears to fill, with Deshorn Brown's transfer to Norwegian club Valerenga announced earlier in the week.
