Bobby Wood has arrived.
The 28-year-old forward landed in Utah on Wednesday and will join the team in training next week after a quarantine period. He joins an RSL team that is 2-1-3 through six matches, ninth in the Western Conference despite playing 1-2 fewer matches than every other team in the West.
Wood has spent his entire career in Germany, starting with 1860 Munich in 2010, where he made his debut in the 2. Bundesliga at 18 years old. He would go on to score 12 goals in 46 appearances with 1860 Munich II and three goals in 50 appearances with the first team in Germany’s second division. After a brief stint with Erzgebirge Aue in 2015, he made the move to Union Berlin for the 2015-16 season and exploded for his best season as a professional. Teaming with current RSL midfielder Damir Kreilach, Wood notched 17 goals in 31 matches, adding three assists on the season. During that season, Kreilach had 12 goals and five assists for his most productive season as a professional.
That breakout season triggered a move to the top flight in Germany’s Bundesliga with Hamburg. In two seasons in the first division, he had seven goals in 50 matches, but Hamburg was relegated following the 2017-18 season and he went on loan to Hannover 96 to remain in the Bundesliga. There he scored three goals in 20 matches before returning to Hamburg in the second division for the 2019-20 season. He has seen limited time since his return, with 21 appearances in 18 months.
Throughout his career, he has been on the radar for the U.S. National Team and after stints with the U-20 and U-23 teams, he made his international debut in 2013 at just 20 years old. In 45 caps, he has 13 goals, scoring most recently in a 2018 friendly against Colombia. In 14 World Cup qualifying appearances, he tallied five goals with two assists while also notching goals in the 2015 CONCACAF Cup Final and CopaAmerica Centenario in 2016.
Real Salt Lake returns to the field after the current international break on June 18 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Rio Tinto Stadium.
