RSL adds Guske, Shokalook as more transfer business looms

HERRIMAN — Real Salt Lake entered the final days of the summer transfer window looking for reinforcements.

It found two young players looking for something, too: opportunity.

RSL added 19-year-old midfielder Colin Guske on loan from Orlando City on Friday and announced Wednesday it had acquired 23-year-old forward Jason Shokalook from Chicago Fire for $150,000 in General Allocation Money.

Shokalook was already on the training field with his new teammates and coaches Tuesday morning.

Guske and Shokalook have already played in MLS, but neither had established a regular first-team role with his former club. Both came to Utah believing there is a clearer path to minutes under RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni.

For Shokalook, that path had become particularly crowded in Chicago.

The 6-foot-1 forward won the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot after scoring 20 goals for Chicago Fire II. He made his MLS debut last season, signed a first-team contract in December and scored twice in his first U.S. Open Cup start.

Shokalook pointed to the brace as a result of his mindset and training habits.

“That’s kind of the professional way,” Shokalook said. “My focus was, even if I’m not getting my opportunity, whenever it comes, just be ready for whatever opportunity came.

“I was ready, and two goals.”

A consistent path to MLS minutes remained difficult. Shokalook was trying to break through behind Hugo Cuypers. Then Chicago added Robert Lewandowski.

“I wanted to make a move,” Shokalook said after training Tuesday. “Real Salt Lake was looking for a striker, and things kind of played out. I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

“Chicago is a great club. They just brought in Lewandowski, so being a young striker, it’s difficult. And now I can kind of go and move forward with another team, and I’m excited for that.”

Shokalook said the opportunity available to young players was part of what attracted him to RSL.

“If you’re a younger guy, it doesn’t matter,” Shokalook said. “If you do come in and do well, you’ll get opportunities. And as a young player, that excited me to come in and work hard and be ready for whatever opportunities I’m given.”

His contract runs through the end of the 2026 season, with club options for 2027 and 2028.

For RSL, Shokalook also fills an immediate need behind Sergi Solans.

“Serge is playing the longest season of his career, and last two games he’s played 90,” Mastroeni said Tuesday. “Just making sure that we have enough reinforcements to really attack these last 12, 13 games the right way.”

Mastroeni described Shokalook as a true center forward.

“I think a lot like Serge,” Mastroeni said. “He’s got a really good feeling in and around the box. He’s opportunistic, but he also runs in behind as well. So he can hold up, but I think his strength is getting in around goal and being opportunistic.”

Minutes aren’t the only thing Shokalook wants to find in Utah.

“I came here with the hope to get more minutes and to help the team, and to make playoffs and hopefully go all the way,” Shokalook said.

‘Learning under him will be a privilege’

Guske’s move came together quickly.

RSL acquired the 19-year-old defensive midfielder from Orlando City on loan through the end of the season for $50,000 in GAM, with an option to purchase him after the season.

Guske joined Orlando’s academy in 2021 and became a regular for Orlando City B at just 17. He started 24 MLS NEXT Pro matches in 2024, playing more minutes than any other 2007-born player in the league and earning selection to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game.

Orlando signed him as a Homegrown Player after that season, and Guske had already made six MLS appearances this year, including two starts, while also establishing himself with the United States U-20 national team.

He learned of RSL’s interest while playing with the U.S. during the CONCACAF U-20 Championship this summer.

“Middle of CONCACAF,” Guske told KSL Sports in an exclusive interview at RSL’s team hotel in Denver before making his club debut Saturday.

“I was super excited.”

Guske said RSL’s emphasis on developing young players helped sell him on leaving the only professional organization he had known.

“The club in general, the coaching staff,” Guske said in Denver. “Just big on growth mindset and developing and want to get the best out of you, so that’s why I came here.”

Mastroeni’s own playing career at the same position also factored into the appeal.

“Learning under him will be a privilege and will be awesome,” Guske said.

Guske got his first RSL minutes only a day after that conversation in Denver, entering in the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.

Before sending him onto the field, Mastroeni kept the instructions simple.

“Pablo just said, ‘Go have fun, make a difference, and enjoy it,’” Guske said Tuesday after training.

Seven minutes after entering the match, Guske took a yellow card after stopping a Colorado transition in midfield.

Mastroeni loved it.

“He made a great tactical foul in the middle of midfield, which also speaks to his level of understanding,” Mastroeni said. “‘This moment is critical. I have to take a yellow card here.’ Those things are really promising for a young midfielder.”

Mastroeni was also impressed with what he saw when Guske had the ball.

“I thought Colin was really composed,” Mastroeni said. “And in order to have composure, you have to have awareness.”

Mastroeni praised Guske’s body positioning, his awareness of defenders around him and his ability to take his first touch into space rather than simply trapping the ball in front of him.

“The key to good pivot work is to take the ball into a space to buy you time to then make the next best decision,” Mastroeni said. “I thought he did extremely well.”

Guske described himself in similar terms when KSL Sports asked him in Denver what RSL supporters should expect from him.

“I’m big on work ethic,” Guske said. “Always working, doing what’s best for the team, and then try to be composed on the ball and connecting in between lines.”

Now Guske wants to turn his debut into a larger role.

“I thought it was a good stepping stone, good start,” Guske said Tuesday. “So now it’s about carrying that on into the next games and the rest of the season.”

Asked what he needs to show Mastroeni to earn more minutes, Guske pointed to both sides of the ball.

“Getting on the ball, leading, being like a quarterback for the team and distributing,” Guske said. “And then helping my guys out, talking to them, and being a soldier on defense.”

More moves coming

The transfer window closes Wednesday night, and RSL has more business being finalized.

Sporting director Kurt Schmid was at training Tuesday, spending part of the session chatting on the sideline with defender Justen Glad.

Another new player was at the facility but did not participate in training.

There could also be movement in the other direction.

Forward Victor Olatunji trained separately from the group Tuesday, working with an assistant coach on the side. Asked about Olatunji’s status, Mastroeni pointed to the closing transfer window.

“I think some opportunities are available to him,” Mastroeni said. “I think just doing right by both parties to make sure that we don’t close any doors for anyone.”

RSL also got encouraging signs from two players who have spent significant time sidelined: Ari Piol, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in February, and Emeka Eneli, who required knee surgery after a preseason injury.

“Ari’s been doing really, really good, and today was his first day being integrated with the group,” Mastroeni said. “I don’t know what the timetable is to make sure that we don’t put him in a rough spot. But the fact that he’s out there today and engaging in small dynamic actions with an Achilles is really positive.

“Really excited for him, and he’s been grinding to get to this spot.”

Eneli is moving along but still isn’t expected back immediately.

“Emeka’s been good,” Mastroeni said. “I think he’s a couple weeks away still.”

Mastroeni said RSL is gradually increasing Eneli’s workload and monitoring how his body responds.

“So far, again, he’s been symptom-free,” Mastroeni said. “I don’t want to say overly cautious, but we’ve been bitten with trying to bring guys back a little bit too early and getting a negative response.”