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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids 2 have signed midfielder Josh Copeland to an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2025 season, the club announced today. Copeland’s rights were acquired by Colorado in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected 26th overall from the University of Detroit Mercy.
“We are very excited to add Josh to our roster,” said Brian Crookham, Director of Player Personnel. “Josh is a player that was under the radar while in college despite having tools that we feel give him a chance to be a very good pro. His athletic profile and engagement in one-on-one situations on both sides of the ball set him apart as a good fit for our system.”
The 6-foot-3, 160-pound Copeland, 19, will join the Colorado Rapids organization after spending two seasons with the University of Detroit Mercy. Over that time, he appeared and started in every match possible for the Titans while logging 2,437 minutes. The midfielder recorded four goals and six assists over his two seasons with 17 shots on goal.
In 2024, the Macomb, Michigan, native posted his best season statistically at the collegiate level. Copeland finished the season tied for the team lead in assists with five and ranked second in goals with three. His performance in 2024 earned him All-Horizon League Third Team honors at the age of 18 years old.
Copeland also thrived academically at UDM, having been selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Team. Additionally, the midfielder was a two-time Detroit Mercy Athletics Director Honor Roll selection.
In high school, Copeland played for Liverpool International Academy-Michigan on the club circuit and was a four-year varsity veteran for Birmingham Brother Rice High School in suburban Detroit. He helped Brother Rice to the MHSAA Division 2 state runner-up trophy in the fall 2021 season before his team was upset in district play as a senior in 2022.
Copeland was a three-time All-State selection, including All-State First Team as a senior.
He graduated in 2023 from Brother Rice and besides his two seasons at NCAA Division I Detroit-Mercy, Copeland played one season in the USL League Two for Union FC Macomb during the club’s inaugural 2024 campaign where he was top five on the team in goals and assists.
COURTESY PHOTO
Former Birmingham Brother Rice, Liverpool International Academy-Michigan and University of Detroit-Mercy standout Josh Copeland was drafted in the MLS SuperDraft back in December and will begin his pro soccer career at MLS NEXT-Pro side Colorado Rapids 2.
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