HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, June 17, 2021) – Real Salt Lake announced the signing of defender Zack Farnsworth from the Real Salt Lake Academy to a four-year MLS Homegrown contract guaranteed through the year 2024 with options for 2025 and 2026, making him the 27th Homegrown Player in Club history.
“Zack is another excellent prospect emerging from our academy,” Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall said. “Over the last 12 months, he has spent extensive time with both the Monarchs in matches and in preseason with the first team and showed well. He has an extremely bright future in this Club and paired with some of the other Homegrowns who we have signed recently we believe he can be a future part of the core of RSL.”
Farnsworth, 18, joined the RSL Academy in 2017 from RSL-AZ as part of one of the first classes to make the transition to Zions Bank Real Academy in Herriman, Utah. In four years, Farnsworth scored seven goals in 58 matches at the U-16 through U-19 levels. Last year the Utah native made nine starts in 11 appearances for the Real Monarchs in the USL Championship.
“I’m stoked to be joining my hometown team and grateful for the opportunity to continue my soccer career with Real Salt Lake,” Farnsworth said.
With the addition of Farnsworth RSL now has 12 Homegrown players on its roster, tied for the most of any team in Major League Soccer. RSL’s Homegrown Players include, Andrew Brody, Bode Davis, Jeff Dewsnup, Zackery Farnsworth, Justen Glad, Chris Garcia, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Milan Illoski, David Ochoa and Donny Toia, with Tate Schmitt under contract but on loan to Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship.
Real Salt Lake current roster as of 06/16/21
Goalkeepers (4): Zac MacMath, David Ochoa, Andrew Putna, Jeff Dewsnup
Defenders (11): Andrew Brody, Toni Datković, Zackery Farnsworth, Justen Glad, Bret Halsey, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Ashtone Morgan, Noah Powder, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia
Midfielders (7): Nick Besler, Bode Davis, Damir Kreilach, Everton Luiz, Justin Portillo, Pablo Ruiz, Albert Rusnák
Forwards (11): Maikel Chang, Chris Garcia, Milan Iloski, Anderson Julio, Douglas Martinez, Jonathan Menéndez, Justin Meram, Jeizon Ramirez, Rubio Rubin, Bobby Wood
On loan (1): Tate Schmitt
TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake has signed defender Zackery Farnsworth to a MLS Homegrown contract.
Player Information
Name: Zackery “Zack” Farnsworth
Pronunciation: FARNS-worth
Position: Defender
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 165 pounds
Date of Birth: July 13, 2002
Age: 18
Birthplace: Cedar Hills, Utah
Hometown: Cedar Hills, Utah
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: RSL Academy
How Acquired: Signed on 06/16/2021
Roster Designation: Homegrown
