HERRIMAN, Utah (Monday, February 13, 2023) – Real Salt Lake has signed 24-year-old DF Brayan Vera via permanent transfer from América de Calí (Colombian Primera A) on a three-year deal, with options to extend for the 2026 and 2027 MLS seasons. Pending receipt of P-1 work visa and International Transfer Certificate, Vera will be added to Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s 2023 RSL roster.
Vera’s signing marks the 14th player arrival to Real Salt Lake since the middle of last May, with the current Major League Soccer primary transfer window expiring in late April. Vera arrives to RSL on a TAM designation, leaving the Utah side with various mechanisms yet to be potentially used for 2023 roster construction.
“Brayan is yet another piece that provides depth and competition on our back line, being equally adept both on the left side as well as centrally,” said Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall, now in his 17th season with the Club. “We believe that Brayan’s path from Colombia to Italy and back to South America during his formative professional years have prepared him to be a key piece for our 2023 roster and beyond.”
Vera, 24, joined Colombian power América de Calí last March, making 28 appearances for one of his home nation’s most popular sides. The loan to América de Calí was executed via U.S. Lecce (Italian Serie A), the club which had owned his player pass since the summer of 2019. Coming off a strong campaign in 2019 for Colombia’s U-20 national team, for which he made 13 appearances, the move to Italy saw Vera make eight appearances, including one start, for Lecce through the pandemic-affected 2020 season. In October 2020, Lecce loaned Vera to Italian Serie B side Cosenza, for which he made 22 appearances in the 2020/21 season, before another loan from Lecce abroad sent Vera back home to “Ame” in Calí.
“People I trust believe that Major League Soccer’s quality will test my skills and advance my playing career,” said Vera upon signing his paperwork, while awaiting work visa and International Transfer Certificate paperwork before relocating to Utah. “I’ve seen the growth of football in North America and I see the fan culture, the work ethic, the family atmosphere in and around Real Salt Lake. I cannot wait for the opportunity to help lead this club to hardware across the various cups and competitions we face in 2023 and the following years.”
TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake sign DF Brayan Vera via permanent transfer from América de Calí (Colombia) on Friday, February 10, 2023.
#4 – Brayan Vera
Pronunciation: “Brian” VERR - uh
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Hometown: San Luis, Colombia
Date of Birth: 15 January 1999 (24)
Nationality: Colombian
How Acquired: Signed via transfer from América de Calí (Colombia) on Feb. 10, 2023
As of February 10, 2023, Real Salt Lake’s current preseason roster, listed alphabetically by position, is as follows:
Goalkeepers (4): Gavin Beavers, Zac MacMath, Tomás Gomez, Blake Kelly
Defenders (13): Andrew Brody, Zack Farnsworth, Justen Glad, Bode Hidalgo, Erik Holt, Gennaro Nigro, Jaziel Orozco (on loan), Bryan Oviedo, Delentz Pierre, Luis Rivera, Marcelo Silva, Keller Storlie, Brayan Vera
Midfielders (12): Julio Benitez, Scott Caldwell, Maikel Chang, Emeka Eneli, Damir Kreilach, Jasper Löffelsend, Diego Luna, Tyrone Mondi, Moses Nyeman, Braian Ojeda, Pablo Ruiz, Jude Wellings
Forwards (10): Andrés Gómez, Anderson Julio, Bertin Jacquesson, Axel Kei, Jonathan Menendez (on loan), Justin Meram, Danny Musovski, Ilijah Paul, Rubio Rubin, Jefferson Savarino
