Real Salt Lake Extends Contract for Rookie Forward Sergi Solans

2026 RSL Golden Boot Leader Boasts 13 Goals Across All Competitions;

Solans’ Nine MLS Goals Sets New Rookie Record for RSL w/ 14 Reg. Season Games Remaining;

RSL Prepares for Club León in Leagues Cup Quarterfinal Tuesday at 8:30p MT

DENVER (Monday, August 24, 2026) – Real Salt Lake announced today it has extended rookie FW Sergi Solans through the 2029-30 MLS season, with a Club option for 2030-31. The announcement comes just six months into Solans’ rookie season his current contract, originally executed upon his signing in January.

“Sergi has proven his quality and commitment from day one, and his on-field production speaks for itself,” said RSL Chief Soccer Officer Kurt Schmid. “Rewarding him with this new contract was an easy decision. He’s a key part of our vision to bring trophies to Salt Lake now and in the years ahead.”

Despite resting Saturday in Orlando, five of RSL’s previous six August matches have seen the Spanish-born rookie find the back of the net, scoring a Club-high 13 goals this season (nine in MLS, two in Leagues Cup, two in the Burnley friendly). The 2026 RSL Golden Boot leader has already set a new RSL rookie scoring record, breaking Corey Baird’s eight-goal total during his MLS Rookie of the Year season in 2019, with Solans entering Tuesday’s Leagues Cup match against Liga MX power Club León with an active four-game scoring run. Should Solans score Tuesday, he would match former RSL captain Damir Kreilach’s record five-game scoring streak, accomplished in Sept.- Oct., 2021.

“I’m quite grateful to the Club to extend this contract,” stated Solans, who made his RSL debut off the bench to become all-time RSL player No. 230 on Feb. 21, 2026, in Matchday One at Vancouver. “I am also very thankful to the coaches for their trust and to the fans for their support from my first day in Utah – my job is not just scoring goals, I want fans to engage with the team and with me, showing their support for the team.

“My time in Utah has been very good so far, it is such an amazing place to live, I tell everyone that the people in this state are so nice, the Club is unbelievable, everyone is so willing to help, and we should all be very proud of that.

“I’m grateful because the coaches trust me, but every day it’s my job to keep proving myself, to keep raising the level, to improve for the future. One of the attributes of my success so far comes from working hard every day, not thinking too far ahead, having my feet on the ground, seizing the opportunity on the weekend, and enjoying that opportunity - soccer is hard!”

Solans, now 22, a Girona FC academy product, first arrived in the United States in 2023, joining Oregon State University in pursuit of a collegiate career. In the Spaniard’s first season with the Beavers, Solans scored 12 goals while also notching two assists in 10 NCAA matches, including nine starts.

Finishing the 2024 season as seventh-highest Division I goalscorer in the nation, Solans earned Third-Team All-America honors, West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors. One month after the conclusion of his NCAA season, Solans rounded out Real Salt Lake’s first-round 2025 MLS SuperDraft class, joining fellow Spain native Jesus Barea (Missouri State), along with GK Max Kerkvliet (UConn) and FW Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos (Marshall), all of whom currently occupy RSL first-team roster spots.

After being selected with the final pick of the first round (30th overall, acquiring the selection from LA Galaxy for $50,000 GAM in a draft-day acquisition), Solans returned to college, transferring to NCAA powerhouse UCLA for his sophomore season. Solans quickly burst onto the scene in Southern California, scoring 16 goals in the campaign, including 12 in a six-game span, leading the Bruins to a Big Ten Championship. Solans concluded his collegiate career by earning 2025 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 2025 All-Big Ten First Team and 2025 United Soccer Coaches – Second Team All-America honors.

Leagues Cup Quarterfinal Tuesday Night

Tuesday, Real Salt Lake (2-0-1, 7 points, 4^th MLS) continues its three-game road swing with a neutral-site contest in one of four 2026 Leagues Cup Quarterfinals, facing the Liga MX top seed Club León (3-0-0, 9 points, 1^st Liga MX) on Tuesday night at 8:30p MT in Commerce City, Colo., at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – where RSL has won 11 times across all competitions in its 22-year history, two fewer than the LA Galaxy’s current Carson, Calif. venue, which also once housed CD Chivas USA.

Should RSL emerge from Tuesday’s Quarterfinal contest, it would travel to face the winner of Toluca (Liga MX) and Austin FC (MLS) on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The Toluca match would be held at Shell Energy Field in Houston, while Austin’s Q2 Stadium would host its Semifinal due to Austin’s higher seed. RSL could return to America First Field for either the Third-Place Match or the 2026 Leagues Cup Final against any opponent other than Columbus Crew SC. The 2026 Leagues Cup Final & Third-Place matches – critical for the trio of CONCACAF Champions Cup spots to be awarded – will be played on Sunday, Sept. 6.

RSL and León have met just once before, back in the 2023 Leagues Cup tourney. RSL defeated León, 3-1, in a weather-delayed match at America First Field that saw the Liga MX side take an early lead in the Round of 32 knockout match, before a Danny Musovski brace and Cristian Arango dagger in the final 20 minutes advanced the Utah squad.

Tuesday’s RSL v. León contest on Apple TV features Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth on the primary English-language call, with Jorge Perez-Navarro and Marcelo Balboa providing the Spanish-language analysis. Simultaneously, the KSL Radio team of David James and Jay Nolly return to the mic. Manuel Hernandez, Willy Barrueta and Isidro López make up the team responsible for the Spanish broadcast on KBMG Latino 106.3 FM.

By virtue of the Utah side’s performance in Phase One of this tournament and a combination of results in matchday three, RSL’s accrual of seven points from three Phase One matches and its MLS-best goal differential of +7 – outscoring opponents 8-1, with goals from six different scorers and 19 different starters – ensured the top four finish on the Major League Soccer side of the 2026 bracket.