Real Salt Lake brings home Utah native Taylor Booth on loan from FC Twente

SANDY — Real Salt Lake is bringing back a familiar name to bolster its attack.

The club announced Wednesday as the summer transfer window approached its close that it had agreed to a deal bringing Utah native Taylor Booth to MLS on loan from Eredivisie club FC Twente. The agreement that runs through the remainder of the 2026 MLS season as well as the 2027 “sprint” season next spring includes an option to buy.

The 25-year-old Booth, who was born in Weber County and grew up playing with La Roca FC and the RSL Academy before joining Bayern Munich’s youth team seven years ago, has played professionally since he was a teenager. After making his professional debut with Bayern Munich II in the German third division in June 2020, and went on to make 125 appearances in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands for Bayern Munich, St. Polten and FC Twente since August 2021.

The U.S. youth international with two caps with the senior men’s team since 2023, Booth signed a 3.5-year contract with Twente on February 4, 2025. But the 5-foot-8 attacker was held scoreless in 361 minutes over 18 appearances for the club last year, and Twente ramped up talks to sign Filip Thorvaldsen from Valerenga to a similar position on one of the most expensive signings in Twente’s history, according to Goal.com.

“Welcoming Taylor back to Utah was an easy decision for us,” Real Salt Lake sporting director Kurt Schmid said. “From his early days in our Academy to playing in top European leagues and representing the USMNT, he’s established a remarkable track record. His tactical flexibility and dynamic attacking play bring immediate depth and quality as we push through the home stretch.”

Utah’s own.

Welcome home, Taylor! pic.twitter.com/OWiSt6q3MI

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 2, 2026

If the idea of Booth returning to his home state via loan from his club overseas sounds familiar, it’s because it is.

Earlier this year, Salt Lake signed Zach Booth — the younger brother of Taylor — on a loan agreement from Netherlands club Excelsior. A former RSL Academy product himself, Zach Booth made six starts in 11 MLS appearances for his hometown club, scoring a goal in a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United before the FIFA men’s World Cup break and adding another against Atlante FC in Leagues Cup.

The younger Booth was filling in at right wing back of Pablo Mastroeni’s 3-4-3 formation for Zavier Gozo, the Utah native who was sold to Crystal Palace in England’s Premier League for a club-record transfer fee reportedly worth close to $15 million. But Zach Booth suffered a hamstring injury Aug. 15 against the first 15 minutes of a home start against Minnesota, and will likely be out 6-8 weeks, according to team officials.

“Even when I was away, I was always following RSL, wishing them the best, and since Zach came back to Utah, he’s spoken about the people, how friendly and welcoming everyone is, how the facilities are top-class,” the older Booth said. “MLS is growing at an amazing rate, gaining respect all around the world.

“I can’t wait to play in front of all the fans, we really have a special connection to this community. This is my boyhood Club, I played for the Academy, there are countless friends and family I want to make proud – so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.”

Real Salt Lake returns to MLS play Saturday to host LAFC (7:30 p.m. MT, Apple TV).