SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has traded veterans FW Fabían Espíndola and DF Jámison Olave to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for allocation money. Per league and club policy, the amount of allocation money exchanged will not be disclosed.
Espíndola, 27, signed with Real Salt Lake on Aug. 17, 2007, briefly leaving the club following the 2008 season before re-signing with RSL on May, 4, 2009. The Argentine striker appeared in 125 regular season games – including 104 starts – in six years with the Utah side, scoring 35 goals, registering 17 assists and getting named to the 2012 MLS All-Star team.
“We thank Fabían for everything he did for RSL over the last six seasons,” Real Salt Lake GM Garth Lagerwey said. “He was a huge part of our success and the club truly wouldn’t be the same without him. He’s a great player and a great individual and we wish him the best of luck in New York.”
Olave, 31, joined RSL on Feb. 20, 2008. The talented Colombian defender was a rock for RSL in the middle of the back line, appearing in 120 regular season games – 119 of which were starts – for the Claret-and-Cobalt, winning the 2010 MLS Defender of the Year Award and earning spots on the 2010 MLS Best XI and 2010 and 2011 MLS All-Star teams.
“Jámison has been a great player for RSL and we thank him for his years of service to the club,” Lagerwey said. “He’s a uniquely talented player and arguably the best defender in club history. We wish him continued success in New York.”
Both Espíndola and Olave are in RSL’s all-time top-10 in numerous statistical categories. Espíndola is second in Claret-and-Cobalt history in goals (35), fourth in assists (17), first in shots (253) and shots on goal (121), seventh in games played (125) and tied for eighth in games started (104). Olave is eighth in RSL history in games played (120), sixth in games started (119) and minutes played (10,320) and 10th in goals scored (10).
Both players played a major role on RSL squads that won MLS Cup 2009, advanced to the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League Final and qualified for an active league-high five-consecutive MLS Cup Playoff appearances from 2008-12.
“Fabían and Jámison were huge parts of RSL’s foundation,” Lagerwey said. “They both played major roles in our 2009 MLS Cup championship, our run to the CCL Final and our five-straight postseason appearances.”
“Unfortunately, all of this continued success has placed severe salary cap constraints on the club. Those constraints were the driving force behind this trade, which we believe will help us reload for the 2013 season.”
Player: Fabian Espindola
Position: Forward
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 160 lbs.
Date of Birth: May 4, 1985
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Citizenship: Argentina
How acquired: Signed to a Senior contract as a Senior International on Aug. 17,2007; Signed to a Senior contract as an International player on May 4, 2009, returning to RSL after signing with Venezuelan side Deportivo Anzoátegui in the 2008-09 offseason.
How departed: Traded to New York Red Bulls along with DF Jamison Olave in exchange for allocation money on Dec. 3, 2012.
Player: Jamison Olave
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 210 lbs.
Date of Birth: April 21, 1981
Birthplace: Medellin, Colombia
Citizenship: Colombia
How acquired: Signed to senior contract on loan from Colombian side Deportivo Cali on Feb. 20, 2008.
How departed: Traded to New York Red Bulls along with FW Fabian Espindola in exchange for allocation money on Dec. 3, 2012.
