Arsenal’s January transfer deadline day took a surprise turn when the Gunners announced the signing of Colorado Rapids defender Auston Trusty.
The 23-year-old has joined the Premier League club on a permanent deal, but will stay with the Rapids until July when Arsenal hope to send him out on loan to a European side.
Trusty was recently called up to the American national team’s January training camp, though is yet to make his international bow on a senior level.
He has impressed since joining the Rapids from Philadelphia Union, starting all but one game as Robin Fraser’s side finished top of the MLS’ Western Conference last season.
With Trusty at centre-back, they secured the second-best defensive record in their conference, though they were dumped out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage by the Portland Timbers.
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While it does appear to be a strange move from Arsenal, the fact that the Rapids are also owned by Stan Kroenke may clear the strategy up somewhat.
According to The Athletic, the Gunners have been ‘exploring the possibility’ of bringing in a Rapids player for some time.
That has started with Trusty, who is rated highly by the hierarchy in Colorado, with the club’s general manager Padraig Smith hailing the 23-year-old for the performances that have earned him a dream move.
“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,” Smith said.
“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.
“Auston’s outstanding performances caught the eye of several European clubs over the past 12 months.
“We are privileged to be part of an organization with the reach and scale of KSE that allows us to help a player of Auston’s potential further his development and career aspirations in Europe.”
Standing at 6ft 3in, Trusty was named the defender of the year for the Rapids for his performances last term.
That led to a call-up for the American national team’s training camp three weeks ago, with his loan back to the Rapids serving as a chance for him to force his way into the squad regularly.
He is capable of playing at centre-back and left-back, featuring in both positions over the course of last season.
That versatility has seen him develop a reputation for pushing out of defence and possessing an aggressive approach to searching for interceptions.
His height means he is comfortable when dealing with long balls forward and a danger in the opposition box when his side win set-pieces.
It may take a few years for Arsenal to see Trusty display those qualities in a red shirt, if the strategy that has been outlined is followed.
