SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has declined the contract options of GK Kyle Reynish, FW Paulo Jr., MF Jonny Steele and FW Emiliano Bonfigli.
“At the end of the season we took a long look at our entire roster, eventually deciding to decline the contract options for these four players,” RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey said.
Both Reynish and Paulo Jr. are eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Process, which will begin with Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 7. A full list of players eligible for the Re-Entry Process will be announced by MLS later this week.
Real Salt Lake can negotiate new deals with Reynish and Paulo Jr. until Dec. 6, the day before Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft. If Reynish and/or Paulo Jr. aren’t picked in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft, RSL will be able to negotiate with them again from the conclusion of Stage 1 on Dec. 7 until Dec. 13, the day before Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft. RSL will not hold rights to either player following Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 14.
Neither Steele nor Bonfigli are eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Process. RSL will hold the rights to both players until their contracts expire at the end of the calendar year.
Picked by Real Salt Lake in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft, Reynish was the longest tenured RSL player. The 29-year-old GK backed up Nick Rimando during his entire RSL career, appearing in eight MLS games and posting a 2-0-5 league record in seven career starts in six years in Salt Lake.
Paulo Jr., 23, spent parts of three seasons with RSL, arriving at the Utah club on loan from Miami FC of the USL First Division on Sept. 9, 2010. The Brazilian striker scored four goals and notched six assists in 36 MLS games – 17 of which were starts – with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
Steele joined RSL this preseason, signing a contract with the team on Feb. 24, 2012. The 26-year-old MF was RSL’s most used substitute, coming off the bench in a team-high 17 of his 28 MLS appearances. The Northern Irishman scored two goals and had two assists for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
Selected with the 17th overall pick of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft, Bonfigli made a limited impact with RSL, scoring one goal in 10 league appearances with the club.
