Real Salt Lake Adds Brazilian League Striker Rwan Cruz Via Loan

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake dipped into the Brazilian transfer market, landing Botafogo striker Rwan Cruz on loan through June 2026.

The deal comes with an option to extend through the 2026 season, and RSL also has a fixed price purchase option that can be exercised at any point during the loan period.

ready to make his move pic.twitter.com/qWv3EBgMqi

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 1, 2025

Since 2021, Cruz has made 127 appearances for four clubs in the Série A and Bulgarian First League. In those games, he has scored 34 goals.

He returned to the Série A with Botafogo in 2025 but had yet to see any action.

Cruz will fill the Designated Player slot for Real and could make his debut in Leagues Cup, assuming his International Transfer Certificate receipt and P-1 work visa go through without issue.

you’ve been waiting, he’s been ready pic.twitter.com/gz3vRdBxro

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 1, 2025

In a press release from the club, Cruz spoke on the transfer and the place he will call home for the next year.

“I am excited to arrive in Utah and I look forward to integrating with the family here at the Club,” Cruz said. “I have been watching the RSL games and I think we play very well as a team. We have a playing style with short passing combinations that I enjoy very much, and I believe this is an excellent fit for me.”

Cruz will take jersey No. 12 from Matthew Bell. Before him, Douglas Martínez was the last to wear that number back in 2021.

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.

For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram. 

You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.

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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