SANDY, Utah (Monday, January 11, 2016) – Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel announced on Monday that the club will loan MF Sebastian Saucedo to Veracruz in Mexico’s Liga MX for the 2016 Clausura and Apertura seasons. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“This is a great opportunity for ‘Bofo’ to continue his development in a different environment with a chance for more playing time in a competitive league,” Waibel said.
Saucedo, who will turn 19 years old on January 22, was signed as a Homegrown Player on July 24, 2014, after two seasons with the Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy. There, he won the USSDA U-16 National Championship in 2013 and was named the U-16 West Player of the Year in the 2013-2014 season after leading the U-16s to a second consecutive championship appearance. He totaled 50 goals in his two years in the Academy before signing with the first team. The Park City, Utah, native was the first Utahan to sign with Real Salt Lake as a Homegrown Player.
In 2015, Saucedo played nine matches with RSL, making his first MLS start on August 8 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In addition to his 168 minutes in MLS play, Saucedo also made one appearance each in CONCACAF Champions League and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as well as seven appearances – all starts – for Real Monarchs SLC in the USL.
Veracruz finished the 2015 Apertura season in eighth in Liga MX with an 8-6-3 record, but fell to top-seeded UNAM Pumas in the playoff quarterfinals.
In addition to his professional experience, Saucedo has also appeared with the U.S. U-18 National Team.
Real Salt Lake opens training camp on January 22 and will include trips to Oceanside, California, and Tucson, Arizona, before the season kicks off on February 24 when RSL will face UANL Tigres in the Quarterfinal Round of CONCACAF Champions League.
