USL to MLS record deal
Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake City have signed 18-year-old midfielder Diego Luna from USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive. Both clubs confirmed the deal on Thursday. Luna has signed a contract until 2024 with club options for 2025 and 2026. Transfermarkt understands that El Paso will receive $250,000, the biggest fee for a player moving from the USL Championship to MLS (all USL record transfers at a glance).
“Everyone at RSL welcomes the opportunity to further sharpen a young player such as Diego Luna on our senior roster, opening the doors of our homegrown development paradigm to a proven, albeit young, dual national No. 10 on the ascent in his professional career,” said Real Salt Lake technical director Kurt Schmid in a club statement. “Luna has blossomed in the last 18 months at El Paso, and we are excited to get him integrated into our system, to learn from Pablo Mastroeni and his staff, while also watching him assert his skills at the upcoming CONCACAF U-20 tourney this month.”
Luna has managed four goals and one assist in 11 games across all competitions for El Paso this season. The 18-year-old dual US-Mexican national is a classical playmaker and has been one of the outstanding players in the current USL season. “Diego Luna has been a wonderful talent for El Paso Locomotive,” Locomotive head coach and technical director John Hutchinson said in a club statement. “His time with us was very entertaining and his growth has been right in front of our eyes, clear for everyone to see.
Movsisyan, Savarino, Julio & Co.: Real Salt Lake City Record Transfers
San Jose also benefit from Luna deal – Receive up to $150,000 in GAM
El Paso are not the only club to benefit. The San Jose Earthquakes, who previously held Luna’s homegrown priority rights will receive $50,000 General Allocation Money (GAM) from RSL. That deal can grow to $150,000 if certain performance metrics are met. The Quakes will also receive a percentage of any future transfer.
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