The Colorado Rapids have signed goalkeeper Nico Hansen to a new contract that extends through the 2027-28 Major League Soccer season, with club options for the following two seasons. The announcement was made by the club on January 23, 2026.
“We’re very pleased to secure Nico on a new long-term contract,” said Rapids Sporting Director Fran Taylor. “He showed real reliability when opportunities came his way last season, and just as importantly, he’s impressed us with his mentality, work ethic, and approach within the group. We have the utmost confidence in him, and we’re looking forward to having him within our group for years to come.”
Hansen, who is 24 years old, joined Colorado ahead of the 2025 season on an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Rapids 2. He moved up to the first team after several short-term call-ups and officially signed a first team contract on April 11, 2025. He made his Major League Soccer debut shortly after on April 20 against Seattle.
During the 2025 season, Hansen started nine consecutive matches from May to July while filling in for injured starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Over ten appearances for the Rapids’ first team that year, he recorded three clean sheets and made a total of 38 saves.
“I’m delighted that we’ve agreed to a new contract with Nico,” said Rapids Head Coach Matt Wells. “Even in this short time of working together, it’s clear that he has a top mentality and an ambition to improve – both very important aspects to me. Already he’s shown a great willingness to embrace the concepts around how we want to play as a team this season. The impact he had last season when called upon speaks for itself. We are very excited to keep building with him as part of our goalkeeping group led by Chris Sharpe.”
In addition to his first-team appearances last season, Hansen played three matches for Rapids 2 in MLS NEXT Pro and posted one clean sheet. Before joining Colorado Rapids, Hansen played for Houston Dynamo 2 in 2024 where he appeared in ten games and registered two clean sheets along with 37 saves.
Hansen began his youth career at Weston FC Academy in Florida before moving at age sixteen to join Everton FC’s youth system in England. There he played for Everton’s U-18s and later signed his first professional contract on July 4, 2019, advancing to their U-23 squad competing in Premier League 2. After leaving Everton, Hansen spent one season with Swansea City’s U-21s before joining Atherton Collieries A.F.C., where over two seasons he made fifty-two appearances and kept twelve clean sheets.
Internationally, Hansen has represented Denmark at the U-19 level with three caps; prior to that he received call-ups from U.S. Youth National Teams at both U-16 and U-17 levels.
The transaction secures Hansen as part of Colorado’s roster through at least the next two seasons with options extending into the end of this decade.
