Corey Baird Traded To LAFC For $500,000 In General Allocation Money & International Roster Spot
Jan 11, 2021, 9:31 AM | Updated: 9:34 am
Corey Baird dribbles past LAFC's Latif Blessing during Real Salt Lakes 3-0 home victory on September 9, 2020. Photo courtesy: Real Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has traded Corey Baird to Los Angeles Football Club for $500,000 in General Allocation Money spread across 2021 and 2022, an international roster spot, and future considerations.
Baird, 24, has played three seasons with Real Salt Lake after the club signed him as a Homegrown Player in 2018. During his time with RSL, Baird appeared in 83 matches scoring 15 goals and assisting on 13 occasions.
Be Well, Baird
In 2018, during Baird’s rookie campaign, he was named the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year after totaling 8 goals and 5 assists in 31 appearances.
You'll always be one of us, @bairdy_23 ♥️
Thanks for the memories & best of luck in LA!
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 11, 2021
“Corey has been an exceptional player for us over the last three years. He has contributed massively to our success on the field and in the organization. As a product of our robust Academy and development system, we are really proud of what he’s become,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “We weren’t looking to move him, but LAFC was extremely interested in acquiring him and were willing to make an offer that we felt as a club will provide us opportunities for the next players as well as strengthening our position to build our roster for 2021 and beyond.”
Prior to his time with RSL, Baird played four seasons with Stanford University where he led the Cardinal to three National Championships.
He has one assist from four caps for the United States National Team.
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“I was fortunate to work with Corey as a young man and watch him grow into a man,” said RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez, who began coaching Baird at the Academy level. “It was a pleasure to be part of that and his development as a player and I wish him the best in this new challenge.”
A New Chapter Awaits
Baird will be fighting for playing time at LAFC alongside three designated players in Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, and Brian Rodriguez.
Rossi claimed the 2020 MLS Golden Boot award following a season that saw the Uruguayan net a league-high 14 goals from 19 games. In 2019, Vela won the same award after scoring 34 goals in 33 matches.
