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Defender Chris Klute, who the Atlanta Silverbacks loaned to the Colorado Rapids in September, will remain with the Major League Soccer club for the 2013 season, the Silverbacks announced Friday.

The announcement marks another milestone in what has been a quick ascension through the ranks for the 22-year-old defender from Grand Prairie, Texas. Klute, who started the 2012 season with the Silverbacks Reserves (NPSL), signed his first professional contract with the Silverbacks first-team side in June. After earning his way into the Silverbacks’ starting lineup, Klute proved to be one of the team’s most valuable assets late in the NASL season.

The Rapids signed Klute to a loan agreement in September – a deal that extended through the end of the 2012 MLS season and included an option for 2013. After a strong overall showing that included helping his team to a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo, the eventual Eastern Conference Champions, the Rapids have elected to exercise the option on Klute for next season.

“We’re very happy for Chris because he is such a quality player and someone who deserves an opportunity to prove himself at the next level,” said Silverbacks General Manager Andy Smith. “It is a proud moment for the Silverbacks organization because he is a product of the commitment we’re making to player development between our Reserves and our professional team.”

The former Dallas Texans youth product was one of three former Atlanta Silverbacks to compete in MLS last season, joining Dynamo forward Macoumba Kandji and New York Red Bulls defender Tyler Ruthven.