HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, July 3, 2020) – Real Salt Lake has signed midfielder Nick Besler to a contract extension, the club announced today.
“We’re excited to keep Nick here. He is a player of the culture that you want to try to develop as a coach. He works extremely hard every day, he’s always ready to go and is a player that has earned a lot of respect from his teammates,” RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. “He’s an important player for us and I think he will be a bit player for us going into this Orlando trip.”
Originally signed during the 2017 season, Besler has two goals and two assists in 41 appearances, 24 of them in a starting role. A versatile central player who can play both as a midfielder or center back, RSL is 11-7-6 in his 24 starts in regular season play. Additionally, he started in one playoff match in 2018.
“I was happy to sign a new contract,” Besler said. “This is the second club I’ve been at and the first I’ve had success at, so I’m excited to stay here in Salt Lake.”
Prior to signing with RSL, Besler, 27, captained Real Monarchs SLC to the USL Regular Season Championship Shield in 2017, logging three goals and one assist in 31 matches. In total, he has five goals and four assists in 84 appearances at the USL level. Prior to arriving in the RSL organization, Besler was the fifth overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers, playing two seasons with Portland Timbers 2 in the USL Championship.
At the collegiate level, the Overland Park, Kansas, native led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the 2013 NCAA National Championship. In four years, he made 73 appearances at Notre Dame.
Real Salt Lake opens the MLS Is Back Tournament on July 12 at 8:30 p.m. MT against the Colorado Rapids in Orlando, Florida.
Transaction: RSL re-signs MF Nick Besler on July 3, 2020.
