Colorado’s Aussie gold rush: Sydney FC teen to follow in Lucas Herrington’s footsteps

The city of Denver, Colorado was founded in 1858 by a group of prospectors who ventured west after the discovery of gold. More than 150 years later, the local soccer team appears to have struck a rich new seam on the other side of the world.

First, there was Lucas Herrington. In just seven months, the Colorado Rapids took the gangly teenage defender from Brisbane Roar and flipped him for an initial $24 million to newly-promoted Premier League side Hull City – one of the best pieces of transfer business in world football this year.

So it should come as little surprise that they’re back panning for more gold in our backyard, having spotted another promising shimmer at Sydney FC.

His name is Akol Akon. Like with Herrington, the moniker won’t mean much to you if you’ve not been watching the A-League closely, but the Rapids have been: despite the 17-year-old’s limited experience at senior level, having tallied just 294 minutes of football with the Sky Blues, the Major League Soccer club decided they had to have this dynamic, often unpredictable winger.

Akon has been sold to Colarado for a reported transfer fee of $1.5 million, which could rise to $2.5 million if certain conditions are met. Even if it doesn’t rise, that figure already makes Akon the most expensive teenager ever sold by an Australian club, and more expensive than Colorado’s initial outlay for Herrington.

While it’s unlikely - but not impossible - that Akon will be sold again in seven months, the shared hope is that the next number he goes for is also similar to that of Herrington, ensuring a tidy profit for all concerned.

The Sky Blues have also retained a sell-on clause, entitling them to a percentage of Akon’s next transfer fee. Brisbane did so with Herrington, too, but famously cashed out early – a mistake from which Sydney FC will surely have learned.

The move has been rumoured for weeks but was only confirmed on Tuesday morning – and it arrived with Herrington’s seal of approval, with the emerging Socceroos superstar having talked Akon through everything he should expect in the United States.

“He made it really easy for me. He told me it’s an amazing club, amazing place, they all treated him so well,” Akon said.

“For me, that’s the most important thing. He helped me a lot with the decision, so big props to him. He’s an amazing guy and a good friend to me. He’s a great player, great kid.

“For me, I’d say I want to do it my way. But if I could follow those steps, that’d be amazing. But who knows … what the future holds.”

From the small glimpses Akon has shown in the A-League, his ceiling is very high.