Colorado Rapids sign Shkelzen Gashi as Designated Player

The Colorado Rapids announced Monday the club has signed former FC Basel forward Shkelzen Gashi as a Designated Player.

Gashi, 27, joins the Rapids out of the Swiss Super League, having scored 25 goals in 41 games with Basel. The Albanian international was also the 2014 player of the year in the Swiss league.

(Courtesy: @ColoradoRapids)

"Shkelzen was our top attacking target this offseason," Rapids technical director Paul Bravo said in a statement. "He has proven to be a prolific goalscorer in his club’s domestic and European success. In addition he has been instrumental in his national team’s qualification campaign for Euro 2016. We are delighted to sign him on a permanent transfer and look forward to seeing him in burgundy."

Gashi isn't the only player out of the Swiss Super League to sign a Designated Player contract; earlier in the day, the New England Revolution also announced the signing of midfielder Xavier Kouassi out of FC Sion, and the Vancouver Whitecaps brought in Eric Hassli out of FC Zurich back in 2011, too.