SANDY, Utah (Friday, December 28, 2018) – Real Salt Lake announced today that the club has agreed to an intra-league loan with Orlando City SC, sending DF Danilo Acosta to OCSC for the 2019 season in exchange for $75,000 in General Allocation Money and granting Orlando the option to buy the player’s rights at the conclusion of the season.
“This is a great opportunity for Danny to gain more playing experience to further his development,” RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. “Going to Orlando for the year will give him exposure to a new club and a different environment. It is also a great chance for him to establish himself as an every-game starter at this young point of his career.”
Since signing with Real Salt Lake prior to the 2016 season, Acosta has logged 29 appearances in MLS play, registering four assists while primarily playing as a left back. He started in nine consecutive matches in the 2018 season from May 26-July 14, with RSL going 5-3-1 in that stretch. In his 26 career starts, RSL went 14-8-4. In addition, he also played 19 matches on loan with Real Monarchs SLC in the USL.
A product of Real Salt Lake’s Academy, Acosta, 21, played for the U.S. U-20 National Team at the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championships and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored the game-winning penalty in a shootout win over Honduras in the final of the CONACAF tournament, giving the U.S. it’s first confederation championship at the U-20 level.
TRANSACTION: Defender Danilo Acosta loaned to Orlando City SC on December 28, 2018 as part of an intra-league loan through the 2019 season.
