Everton ‘keeper Tim Howard agrees move to Colorado Rapids

In 2009, he set a club record for most clean sheets in a season and saved two penalties in a shoot-out against Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal to send his team into the final.

The worst kept secret in Major League Soccer is finally out in the open.

Howard will join the Rapids as a designated player from English Premier League club Everton at the conclusion of the Premier League season. MLS side Colorado Rapids have today confirmed that the USMNT goalie has signed on, and will be paraded at their game in the nation’s capital against D.C. United. I spoke to my family, I spoke to Roberto and I spoke to the Chairman, Bill Kenwright.

“And because this is home, of course I will miss it, but I’m excited about my move to Colorado Rapids and continuing my career with them”.

Howard has been linked with Colorado since January when the Rapids acquired the top slot in the MLS player allocation ranking, which gave the club the first crack at signing the 37-year-old keeper. He spent the past 10 years with Everton. “It’s not done yet, but I think as football clubs move forward and players have careers to think about, you always have to make decisions”, he said. We have a large following and a big Everton community in the U.S. because they were introduced to us through Tim Howard.

Howard, a New Jersey native, started his pro career with the New York Red Bulls (then the MetroStars) in 1998 and was named the 2001 MLS goalkeeper of the year.

ESPN reported Howard’s deal runs through 2019 and is worth about $2 million annually. “This will always be my team and my club”, Howard said in a brief interview on Everton’s official website. With the national team, he has earned 106 caps and a spot on three World Cup rosters.