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SANDY — After two years and a handful of highlights, Carlos Salcedo’s time in Salt Lake City has come to a close.
Chivas de Guadalajara and Major League Soccer agreed to a transfer fee that will send the Mexican international to the Liga MX side from Real Salt Lake, both clubs confirmed Tuesday night.
“Club Deportivo Guadalajara S.A de C.V. wishes to inform you that it has reached a deal with Major League Soccer to acquire in a definitive purchase the rights to its player Carlos Salcedo Hernandez,” Chivas announced in Spanish on its website.
Per MLS and club policy, the transfer fee and allocation allotment will not be disclosed.
Salcedo, the 21-year-old central defender who has played in the academy system of Chivas, RSL and Liga MX club UANL Tigres, signed with the RSL senior team in 2013 after one season in the academy based in Casa Grandes, Arizona. The native of Guadalajara, Mexico, confirmed the signing on his Twitter account, thanking Chivas owners Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes in Spanish for making the transfer official.
Salcedo played 3,240 minutes that included 20 starts for RSL since joining the team in 2012, scoring a goal in a versatile role that saw him play both central defense positions and outside back along the Salt Lake back line. RSL went 3-2-1 when Salcedo started for the club in 2014.
But the 6-foot-1 RSL-Arizona Academy graduate made several public statements during a drawn out transfer saga in the offseason, taking to his Twitter account to say he had asked RSL to not pick up his contract’s option for the 2015 MLS season after disagreements between Salcedo, his father and the front office.
RSL picked up his option for 2015, but Salcedo and his agent continued to negotiate with other clubs, according to multiple reports. The Mexico U-23 Olympic team fixture also reportedly had offers from Europe, but worked out a deal to sign with Chivas in the end.
RSL now moves on in a significant transition year for the defensive back line. Former RSL defender Jamison Olave returns to the club after two seasons with the New York Red Bulls, but he’ll be replacing former central partner Nat Borchers, who has moved on to the Portland Timbers. Veteran outside back Chris Wingert was selected by former RSL coach Jason Kreis and New York City FC in the expansion draft, and RSL has only six defenders on its roster at the present time, including recent academy graduates Jordan Allen and Justen Glad.
Head coach Jeff Cassar’s team has reportedly reached out to Jamaican international Demar Phillips in an effort to strengthen the squad at outside back. Phillips is a veteran presence who recently returned from a five-year stint in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, where he scored 12 goals in 120 appearances for Aalesund FK.
GROSSMAN OFF TO EUROPE — Former RSL midfielder Cole Grossman has found a new club, and it is with a name familiar to U.S. soccer fans.
Grossman, whose contract was not renewed by RSL last month, joined former U.S. men’s national team coach Bob Bradley at Stabaek in Norway, the American coach announced Tuesday.
“He trained for us at the end of last year, and impressed everyone as a versatile and smart midfielder,” Bradley said of Grossman in a video on Stabaek’s YouTube channel. “He’s a player who I think our Stabaek fans will really enjoy watching throughout the year.”
The 25-year-old Grossman signed with RSL in 2013 following two seasons with the Columbus Crew. He appeared in 21 matches, including seven starts, with one goal for RSL, which extended a bona fide contract offer to him along with Borchers and Wingert on Dec. 2.
