Report: Real Salt Lake Trades Star Forward Chicho Arango To San Jose

SALT LAKE CITY – According to reports, Real Salt Lake and San Jose have agreed on a trade centered around star forward Chicho Arango.

After a season and a half with RSL, Arango will move on to his third MLS team.

🇨🇴 BREAKING: The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired star forward Chicho Arango from Real Salt Lake, per sources.

Arango, 29, joined RSL for a club-record fee of $6m last year.

I’m told 1.5m GAM + int’l spot is part of the return for RSL.

🤝 @PSierraR pic.twitter.com/MSSBgyb5sc

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 10, 2025

The news was first broken by MLS and USMNT insider Tom Bogert.

He reported that Real will receive $1.5 million in general allocation money and an international roster spot. The full details of the trade have yet to be released.

Last year, Real Salt Lake spent a club-record $6 million to bring Arango into town.

Chicho Arango can’t be stopped! 🔥

A hat trick and assist gives him 25 goal contributions in 17 games (third fastest in MLS history). pic.twitter.com/SfQZtlw0UI

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 2, 2024

The money proved to be well-spent for RSL. Arango was an MLS Golden Boot contender for much of the 2024 season.

Led by Arango and Andres Gomez, Real’s offense in the first half of the season provided memories that won’t soon be forgotten by Utah soccer fans.

Arango finished the season with 17 goals and 12 assists. If it weren’t for a late-season suspension followed by a loss of momentum for the club, Arango could have walked away with the Golden Boot trophy.

Ultimately, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke took home the award with 23 goals.

#RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni speaks on how @realsaltlake’s offense changes without Chicho Arango and Andres Gomez. pic.twitter.com/uDNin6XBkf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 25, 2024

Now, with both Arango and Gomez moving on to their next clubs, questions about RSL’s future are louder than ever.

Real Salt Lake’s 2025 season begins on Saturday, February 25, in San Jose against the Earthquakes.

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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