HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, January 6, 2022) – Real Salt Lake have signed defender Delentz Pierre through the 2023 season with club options for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons, as the Club’s league-leading 36th all-time Homegrown Player from the University of Portland. The defender is the second Pierre to sign within the RSL umbrella, joining younger brother Bobby who plays for the Club’s MLS NEXT Pro side, Real Monarchs.
“Delentz is someone we have watched progress from his Academy days, through his college career, and now, after seeing him train with RSL this past summer, we focused on him during his senior season,” Technical Director Kurt Schmid said. “Delentz has proven throughout his pathway that he is able to compete in a fast-paced and physical environment, which we expect to see him translate well at the professional level.”
As a member of the University of Portland Pilots, Pierre appeared in 48 matches, 45 of them starts, contributing offensively with four goals and two assists. He led the backline, helping the Pilots qualify for back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the first time in school history since 2004. And this year he netted the game winner in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen to punch Portland’s ticket into the Elite Eight, a first since 1995 and for only the third time in school history.
Before taking the collegiate route Pierre was a part of the RSL Academy where he played in a combined 90 matches across the Club’s various age levels. In the summer of 2019, before departing for Portland, Pierre made his professional debut with Real Monarchs in the USL Championship. Pierre would go on to make three starts for the Monarchs on the team’s way to winning the 2019 USL Championship Title.
At the international level, Pierre has represented the U-20 Haiti National Team, scoring one goal in two matches.
Pierre joins current RSL Homegrowns Gavin Beavers, Julio Benitez, Andrew Brody, Justen Glad, Zack Farnsworth, Bode Hidalgo, Erik Holt, Axel Kei, Diego Luna, Jaziel Orozco **Luis Rivera** and Jude Wellings.
TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake signs defender Delentz Pierre from the University of Portland as a Homegrown Player on January 6, 2023
Player Information
Name: Delentz Pierre
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1"
Date of Birth: November 16, 2000
Age: 22
Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Citizenship: Haiti
Last Club: University of Portland
How Acquired: Signed on January 6, 2023
