San Diego FC has officially announced the acquisition of defender Ian Murphy from the Colorado Rapids. The transaction, confirmed on June 29, 2026, involves San Diego FC exchanging Charlotte FC’s natural second-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft, which they previously obtained on April 10, 2026. Additionally, the deal includes the potential for San Diego FC to pay up to $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) contingent upon Murphy meeting specific performance metrics. The Colorado Rapids will retain a portion of Murphy’s salary budget charge.

Murphy's Background and Experience

Ian Murphy, 26, joins San Diego FC after a year and a half with the Colorado Rapids, where he made 17 appearances in MLS regular-season matches and participated in a total of 22 games across all competitions. A native of Redlands, California, Murphy had a successful collegiate career at Duke University, starting 64 of 69 matches over four seasons. In his final year, he played 1,748 minutes and received Third Team All-South Region honors in 2021, along with being recognized on the ACC Academic Honor Roll three times.

Career Progression

Before joining the Rapids, Murphy was drafted by FC Cincinnati as the 14th overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He made his professional debut in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup and his MLS debut on March 5, 2022, against D.C. United. During his time with FC Cincinnati from 2022 to 2024, Murphy accumulated 105 appearances, including 80 in MLS regular-season play, before transferring to Colorado on December 9, 2024.

San Diego FC Sporting Director Tyler Heaps expressed enthusiasm about Murphy's addition to the team, highlighting his valuable MLS experience and the depth he will bring to the defensive lineup as the club prepares for a demanding second half of the season.