Real Salt Lake Trades MF Pablo Ruiz To LA Galaxy

Veteran Midfielder Departs Utah After Eight Seasons with Club

HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, September 3, 2026) — Real Salt Lake announced today it has traded MF Pablo Ruiz to fellow MLS Western Conference side LA Galaxy in exchange for $400,000 in 2027 General Allocation Money (GAM). The trade was finalized prior to yestersay’s conclusion of the summer transfer window.

Ruiz, 27, departs Real Salt Lake after spending the previous eight years in the Wasatch Front. Arriving to RSL in 2018 from San Luis de Quillota (Chile), Ruiz has since gone on to appear in 161 matches across all competitions for the Claret-and-Cobalt, the second-most amongst those on Real Salt Lake’s active roster and the 15th-highest amongst 240 players to have appeared in RSL’s 22-year history. The Argentine midfielder also ranks as the runner-up amongst active teammates in MLS minutes played, logging 9,340 (Justen Glad leads with 24,737) and goal contributions, notching 24 (Diego Luna, 55).

“We are very thankful for Pablo’s service to the Club over the last eight years,” said RSL Chief Soccer Officer Kurt Schmid, lamenting the loss of such a beloved locker-room figure. “He has been a consummate professional on and off the field, as both a young player arriving in North America and as a mentor to many throughout our community. We wish him and his family the best of luck in all future endeavors.”

Following a short loan stint in 2019 to FC Pinzgau Saafelden of the Austrian third division, making the move with former RSL and Real Monarchs DF Andrew Brody, Ruiz became a regular in the RSL lineup, notching 18 appearances throughout the 2020 “MLS Is Back” campaign. In November, 2020, the Claret-and-Cobalt agreed on the first of two contract extensions meant to keep Ruiz on the Wasatch Front through the 2026 season.

After signing a four-year extension with RSL, Ruiz notched back-to-back seasons with 29 appearances, on pace for another before suffering a torn right meniscus in mon-contact fashion in the ninth minute of a 4-0 loss at LAFC in the 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 16, an injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the year. 

Recovering for RSL’s 2024 opener against fellow Argentine Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, Ruiz started two of Real Salt Lake’s three opening matches that year. During a training session on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Ruiz suffered his second severe knee injury, tearing his left ACL days after signing another extension with the Claret-and-Cobalt through 2026, ending his year early. 

After returning from injury yet again, Ruiz has gone on to log 28 additional appearances the last two seasons, his final match with the Claret-and-Cobalt coming in Commerce City, Colo., last Saturday, a 1-0 loss to Rocky Mountain Cup Rival Colorado Rapids.

RSL now hosts Western Conference rival Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) this Saturday, Sept. 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV. Four of RSL’s next six matches during the month of September will be played at America First Field, where RSL owns a 10-2-2 (W-L-T) record across all competitions this year, with a dominant 18-5-4 (W-L-T) mark in Sandy since June 1, 2025. Tickets for all RSL and Utah Royals FC (NWSL) events are available at www.RSL.com/tickets.