St. Louis CITY SC has acquired 26-year-old Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro from the Colorado Rapids via a Cash for Player Trade for a club-record $12 million fee, plus an additional $250,000 in conditional compensation. Navarro joins CITY SC as a Designated Player and has agreed to four-year contract through the 2029-30 season, with an option for the 2030-31 season.
“When we started the search for a striker who could fit our system, Rafa’s profile really stood out to us, and he quickly became one of our main targets,” said Sporting Director Corey Wray. “We knew there was significant interest in Rafa, but we were determined to make him a priority for us. He is not only a proven goalscorer in this league, but he brings so much to the team through his work-ethic, pressing, link-up play and overall presence in the attack. His effort on both sides of the ball, combined with his ability to score goals and create opportunities for his teammates, will be a big boost to our group. We believe Rafa is entering the prime years of his career, and we are excited to bring him to St. Louis and get him integrated into the group as soon as possible.”
Navarro, 26, joins CITY SC after establishing himself as one of Major League Soccer’s most productive strikers since arriving in the league in 2023. The Brazilian striker has scored 38 goals and recorded 15 assists in 97 regular-season MLS appearances, recording double-digit goals in each of the last three seasons. So far in 2026, Navarro has scored 10 regular-season goals and added four assists in 22 appearances.
“Rafa’s signing is further evidence of the ambition we have for St. Louis CITY SC and the commitment our ownership group has made to building a club capable of competing at the highest level,” said Diego Gigliani, CITY SC President and General Manager. “Bringing a player of Rafa’s quality to St. Louis represents a significant investment, but more importantly, it reflects our belief in the project and future of this club. Our ownership group has embraced a desire to be bold, and this signing is another step in that direction. We know our supporters expect us to compete, and we are committed to giving our sporting staff and players the resources they need to do that.”
A native of Cabo Frio, Brazil, Navarro began his professional career with one of Brazil’s “Big 12 Clubs”, Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro, where he established himself as a first-team regular and scored 15 goals in 37 appearances during the club’s 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B title-winning campaign.
Navarro joined Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras in 2022 and was part of teams that won back-to-back Brazilian league championship titles, as well as the 2023 Brazilian Super Cup. He also scored seven goals in 10 appearances during Palmeiras’ 2022 Copa Libertadores campaign.
Navarro joined the Colorado Rapids during the 2023 MLS season on loan from Palmeiras before making the move permanent in 2024.
TRANSACTION: St. Louis CITY SC has acquired 26-year-old Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro from the Colorado Rapids via a Cash for Player Trade for a club-record $12 million fee, plus an additional $250,000 in conditional compensation. Navarro joins CITY SC as a Designated Player and has agreed to four-year contract through the 2029-30 season, with an option for the 2030-31 season.
RAFAEL NAVARRO
Pronunciation: ha-fah-EL nah-VAH-hoo
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 lbs.
Birthdate: April 14, 2000 (26)
Birthplace: Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nationality: Brazil
