Real Salt Lake sign former US international forward Rubio Rubin

Ari Liljenwall

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing

The long and winding professional soccer journey of Rubio Rubin will be making its first stop in MLS, as Real Salt Lake announced Thursday the club has signed the former US international forward.

Rubin, 24, joins RSL from San Diego Loyal of the USL Championship, where he racked up seven goals in five appearances in 2020.

“We’ve kept tabs on [Rubin] from a young age and we are excited to bring him in,” RSL head coach Freddy Juarez said in Thursday's release. “He is young but has experience playing in Europe and Mexico. We hope to be able to help in his continued development and with his quality he can add a lot to our roster.”

Rubin was once a highly touted prospect on the US youth international circuit, putting up big numbers playing for the U-17s and U-20s with 20 goals in 48 combined appearances playing in those age groups from 2011-2015 and was named the US Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year in 2012. He made his senior team debut in 2014 and has seven career caps, but has since fallen off the USMNT radar, with his last appearance for the Yanks coming in 2018.
At the club level, Rubin has played for a lengthy list of clubs since starting with Dutch side FC Utrecht in 2014. Before joining the Loyal, Rubin made 15 appearances in Liga MX with Club Tijuana, and also did a stint on loan with second-tier affiliate Dorados, scoring seven goals in 42 appearances across all competitions.

2020 Real Salt Lake Roster as of January 7, 2020:

HEAD COACH: Freddy Juarez

FORWARDS (9):