Exciting young Colombian midfielder Nelson Palacio joins Real Salt Lake as the team’s latest U-22 Initiative player, joining fellow midfielder Braian Ojeda and winger Andrés Gómez.
Palacio joins Gomez, Brayan Vera and Chicho Arango as the Club’s fourth Colombian player, with all four having joined within the last two transfer windows. Palacio signed with RSL just days after falling in the Superliga Colombiana Final with his boyhood Club, Atlético Nacional. An adept defensive midfielder, Palacio won the third most tackles for Nacional two seasons in a row as a 20 and 21-year-old.
As impressive as his defensive acumen is, his ability to break lines with his high range of passing from a deep defensive midfield role also helps set Palacio apart. A player unafraid to make a tackle or a tough pass.
Palacio will join a central midfield at RSL that includes Argentine Pablo Ruiz, who is arguably enjoying his best MLS season to date, Paraguayan Ojeda, who is having an impressive season in his own right and is tied for eighth in MLS in interceptions, MLS Superdraft picks Jasper Löffelsend and Emeka Eneli who’ve both shined with their impressive workrates, and eversteady MLS veteran Scott Caldwell.
Internationally, Palacio made his Colombian National Team debut earlier this year, joining Arango as one of RSL’s two Colombian internationals.
Here is everything you need to know about Palacio’s career prior to joining RSL:
- Palacio, 22, was born in Apartadó, Colombia
- Palacio signed with his childhood Club, Athletico Nacional, in 2020 as a teenager, the same Club he had played for since he was six years old.
- During his first year as a professional with Athletico Nacional he was loaned to Valledupar FC in Categoría Primera B, the second flight of Colombia football, where he made 24 appearances.
- Upon his return to Athletico Nacional he helped his team win its fifth Copa Colombia, the first major title of his career.
- Through three seasons he appeared in 80 matches, scoring three goals and winning the 2022 Apetura for the Categoría Primera A. This title clinched the team’s spot in the Superliga Colombia which Palacio helped lift, playing 45 minutes in the second leg of the final on Athletico’s way to the 5-3 win.
- Palacio made his Colombia National Team debut on March 24, 2023, coming on as a substitute in the team’s 2-2 draw against South Korea. Four days later he was available on the bench in the 2-1 win over Japan, but did not appear.
Fast Facts:
- Palacio becomes the fourth current member and seventh all-time of the Claret-and-Cobalt to hail from Colombia, joining elite company that includes current Real Monarchs Head Coach Jamison Olave who appeared in 120 matches during his tenure with Real Salt Lake, while also helping the Club capture its only league title in 2009. Olmes Garcia (104 appearances) and Sebastian Velazquez (43 appearances) make up the other two members of the trio of former RSL men that are from Colombia. Meanwhile, recent arrival, Cristian “Chicho” Arango and current center back Brayan Vera and winger Andrés Goméz are the other three members of RSL who are currently from Colombia. For the first time in RSL’s history the team has four Colombians on its roster at one time. Real Salt Lake now has the second most Colombians on any MLS roster, only bested by Portland Timbers who have five on their team.
- With his arrival, Palacio becomes the eighth player in Major League Soccer history to transfer to the league directly from Athletico Nacional, joining Andres Reyes, Dairon Asprilla, Oscar Echeverry, Cristian Dajome, Christian Mara, Andres Perea and Carlos Rivas.
- Palacio will serve as the Club’s third U-22 Initiative member, joining fellow midfielder Braian Ojeda and winger Andrés Goméz. Major League Soccer’s U-22 Initiative allows clubs to add players age 22 and younger to MLS rosters, often with lucrative contracts at a reduced budget charge, decreasing the risk associated with acquiring or retaining players still approaching their prime.
- Joining Chicho Arango, Palacio is just the second player in RSL history to appear for the Colombia National Team and the 11th active player in Major League Soccer to have represented Colombia.
At 5 foot 11 inches, Palacio becomes the tallest midfielder on RSL’s roster, taller than the previous title holder Maikel Chang by just one inch. Outside of Chang and Palacio, the remainder of the midfield core all sits between 5’ 9” and 5' 6” with Moses Nyeman coming in at the shortest.
