RSL to Send Conditional General Allocation Money to San Jose in Exchange for Third ‘Quakes Academy Player in Recent Years (Diego Luna, Owen Anderson); Teams Also Swap 2027 MLS SuperDraft Third-Round Selections
HERRIMAN, Utah (Tues., January 6, 2026) — Real Salt Lake announced today it has acquired 17-year-old FW Chance Cowell from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for up to $650,000 in future General Allocation Money (GAM), pending certain performance-based incentives achieved prior to June, 2030. The two Major League Soccer clubs also swap 2027 third-round MLS SuperDraft picks, with the Earthquakes retaining a percentage of any future transfer or trade involving Cowell.
Cowell – who will join the Utah side when its 2026 preseason kicks off this weekend at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman – now follows former San Jose academy homegrowns Diego Luna and Owen Anderson to matriculate to Utah through their youth development careers.
Cowell, 17, made his professional debut for the Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro Team, The Town FC, on Aug. 3, 2024, in a match against Minnesota United FC 2. In two seasons with TTFC, he made 29 appearances (12 starts) and tallied four goal contributions (2g/2a). A native of Ceres, California, and the younger brother of former Earthquakes/USMNT standout Cade Cowell, Chance officially became a part of the Earthquakes’ First Team on Jan. 1, 2024, after signing a contract as a Homegrown Player.
A dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, Cowell has been called by both federations at various youth levels. He has competed for the Stars and Stripes at the Under-17, U-16 and U-15 age groups, and for El Tri on its U-15 National Team.
TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake (MLS) acquire FW Chance Cowell from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for up to $650,000 in future General Allocation Money (GAM) if certain performance-based incentives are achieved prior to June, 2030. The clubs will swap their third-round 2027 MLS SuperDraft selections, with the Earthquakes also retaining a percentage of any future transfer or trade involving Cowell.
In late November, RSL’s 2026 schedule was revealed, with the Club’s America First Field venue in Sandy slated to welcome global soccer icon Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF to Utah for the first – and perhaps only – occasion on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Join the 2026 RSL ticketing waitlist at www.RSL.com/tickets.
The Claret-and-Cobalt also released its complete 2026 preseason slate, various key dates during the celebratory 2026 FIFA World Cup year, and most importantly, the entire 34-game MLS regular season schedule (17 home games, 17 away in MLS), which features multiple international soccer legends who are expected to visit Sandy throughout 2026.
Top visiting athletes in addition to Messi and Co. expected to provide highly-anticipated moments include: Korean superstar Son Heung-min (Los Angeles Football Club, Sept. 5), German trophy king Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Sept. 19), beloved Mexican cult figure Chucky Lozano (San Diego FC, April 18) and another storied German star, Marco Reus (LA Galaxy, Nov. 7).
RSL’s complete 2026 regular season schedule is available at www.RSL.com.
Players, coaches and staff report later this week ahead of the Club’s Jan. 10 preseason report date, with RSL preparing for its 22nd MLS campaign with 2026 preseason matches in Portugal and Southern California, as The Atlantic Cup tournament organizers and Coachella Valley schedule-makers solidified various slates.
Returning to Lagos, Portugal, where it had spent a portion of the 2024 preseason, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s side will play three games over 13 days in the back half of January as part of the annual Atlantic Cup tourney, with the first two matches against legendary Danish sides Randers FC (Jan. 22) –once home to former RSL striker Yura Movsisyan – and Bröndby (Jan. 26), a side also connected to David Blitzer’s Global Football Holdings.
RSL will conclude its Iberian peninsula experience against fellow MLS Western Conference foe FC Dallas (Jan. 30), before competing its 24-hour door-to-door travels, returning to Utah on Feb. 1
After spending the first week of February back in Utah, the Claret-and-Cobalt then wrap up its 22nd preseason slate with two games in Southern California, facing off against newly-transferred DF Kobi Henry’s former USL Championship side, Orange County SC (Feb. 7), as well as MLS Cup 2024 champions LA Galaxy (Feb. 13), the latter match being played outside of Palm Springs, Calif.
RSL then kicks off its 2026 Major League Soccer campaign on Sat., Feb. 21 at B.C. Place, home of the reigning Western Conference champion, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, one week prior to the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 2026 home opener at America First Field against long-time rival Seattle Sounders FC on Sat., Feb. 28. Both of RSL’s February games kick off at 5:30p MT, with season ticket and four-game packages NOW AVAILABLE at www.RSL.com/tickets.
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