Real Salt Lake has traded Homegrown Goalkeeper David Ochoa to D.C. United in exchange for $75,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM), the Major League Soccer teams announced today. Should Ochoa re-sign with D.C. United for the 2023 season, RSL will receive an additional $300,000 in General Allocation Money, evenly divided between the 2023 and 2024 seasons ($150,000 each year). Should Ochoa be transferred outside of MLS during the 2022 season, RSL will receive $300,000 GAM in 2023. Real Salt Lake are entitled to 25% of a D.C. United incoming transfer fee, should the Washington, D.C. side permanently transfer Ochoa outside of MLS.
“Everyone at RSL should thank David for his years of exceptional service at the Academy, for the Monarchs, and for the first team,” said Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall. “David has been a critical figure in our postseason run last year, in the Monarchs 2019 USL title and throughout his youth career here. We wish him all the best at D.C. United and in his future endeavors, and we will always consider him part of the RSL Family.”
A year ago, the dual-national 21-year-old netminder began the season with the United States U-23 side, starting three games last March in Olympic qualifying before declaring himself eligible for Mexico via FIFA’s one-time switch in August, 2021. For RSL, Ochoa started 25 MLS regular-season matches during the 2021 season, registering five clean sheets and making 83 saves while allowing 40 goals for a 1.60 Goals Against Average. In the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, Ochoa famously pitched 120 minutes of shutout soccer at Seattle and saved the Sounders’ ultimate attempt in a six-round shootout, following up that performance with a 2-1 win at Kansas City. RSL fell in the Western Conference Final, 2-0, at Portland.
This season, Ochoa made just one appearance for Real Salt Lake, backstopping an 0-1 loss in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play against the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. For the Club’s MLS Next Pro side, Real Monarchs, Ochoa made a pair of late May starts during the 2022 seasons, allowing four goals and making five saves against Houston and North Texas.
