HERRIMAN, Utah (Wednesday, November 28, 2018) – Real Salt Lake welcomes MF Luis Arriaga and GK David Ochoa as the club’s latest Homegrown signings, General Manager Craig Waibel announced today. The players become the club’s 17th and 18th Homegrown signings, continuing the club’s efforts of cultivating talent through its Academy system.
Both players will join the roster for the 2019 Major League Soccer season.
“These are two players who we know very well from the RSL Academy,” RSL Assistant General Manager Elliott Fall said. “We believe that both Arriaga and Ochoa can join the group we have and continue to help build our club at the professional level. We’re excited to see two more players from our Academy who are able to make the leap to the professional game and contribute to our club.”
Arriaga, 17, has started and played in nine total matches for the RSL Academy this season, scoring four goals thus far. The Santa Rosa, California native currently carries 55 goals throughout his career dating back to his arrival at the RSL Academy prior to the 2015 season.
“It’s very exciting to sign for Real Salt Lake,” Arriaga said. “I started at the Academy at 14 years old with this dream of becoming a professional player. So, to see it pay off is a dream come true. I set out to achieve this dream and now it’s realized. But the work isn’t done for me. I’m excited to get to work and contribute to this team and prove myself.”
Ochoa, 17, has yet to appear for the U-19s this season due to regular call-ups with the United States Under 20s. However, he made his professional debut in April 2018, starting and playing the full 90 minutes for Real Monarchs SLC in its 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 2017 the Oxnard, California native appeared in 14 matches for the U-17s and 17 for the U-19s. Ochoa is currently with the U.S. U-20 and recently helped the U.S. contingent qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Most recently, Ochoa earned his second shutout in as many matches played in the tournament, helping the States to its second consecutive CONCACAF Championship match with a 1-0 win over Honduras in the tournament semifinal.
“To sign for the first team means a lot to me, especially since I’ve been a part of the Academy for so long,” Ochoa said. “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to improve myself and my game with RSL and help the club succeed. I can’t wait to get to work.”
RSL had the most minutes played by Homegrown players in MLS in 2018, with RSL Academy products logging 10,826 regular season minutes.
The latest signings will bring RSL’s list of Academy products on the current roster to ten, along with DF Danilo Acosta, FW Jordan Allen, FW Corey Baird, DF Justen Glad, DF Aaron Herrera, DF Brooks Lennon, FW Sebastian Saucedo and FW Julian Vazquez. Other former Homegrown signings include Nico Muniz, Donny Toia, Lalo Fernandez, Jose Hernandez, Benji Lopez, Phanuel Kavita, Fito Ovalle and Ricardo Velazco.
Player Information
Name: Luis Arriaga
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 137 lbs
Born: 1/06/2001 (17 yo)
Hometown: Santa Rosa, California
Last Club: RSL Academy
Name: David Ochoa
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 175 lbs
Born: 1/16/2001 (17 yo)
Hometown: Oxnard, California
Last Club: RSL Academy
