English giants Arsenal FC have signed Auston Trusty from the Colorado Rapids on a permanent deal. The 23-year-old defender will stay with Colorado until June. The plan is for him to be loaned out by Arsenal to a European club for the 2022-23 season. The Colorado Rapids have the same owner as Arsenal, Stan Kroenke.
Trusty was part of the US national team setup at the U20 level, but has yet to make his debut on the seniors’ side. He was part of a training camp in January ahead of the most recent qualifiers, but was omitted from the team when head coach Gregg Berhalter announced the final squad.
Last season, Trusty spent more time on the pitch than did any other player on the Colorado roster. After his move from Philadelphia Union in 2020, he played a total of 41 games for the Rapids, netting once.
“Auston is coming off an exceptional season in 2021 in which he played a vital role in helping us finish atop the Western Conference for the first time in our history,” Colorado general manager Padraig Smith said in a statement. “We remain committed to bringing through the top young players from Colorado and across the United States, and to providing them with a platform to flourish, achieve success in MLS, and earn the chance to make a move to Europe,” he added.
Trusty plans to be part of the USMNT squad in Qatar
“It’s just surreal, it’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” Trusty said about his transfer to Arsenal. “It’s such a big club, such a big opportunity. I’m honored to be in the position I am today, I’m ready to go,” he added.
Trusty is the youngest player in MLS history to be involved in all of the minutes his team plays during a season. He was just 18 in 2018 when the Union fielded him in all 35 of their MLS matches.
In 2021, he featured in 33 games for Colorado, scoring once and assisting three times. His objective is to convince Berhalter to play him on the USMNT in the March qualifiers, and then to be part of the World Cup squad in Qatar should the US qualify.