SANDY, Utah – (Tuesday, January 21, 2020) – Real Salt Lake has signed free agent defender Ashtone Morgan, bringing the nine-year MLS veteran and Canadian National Team left back to RSL ahead of the 2020 season. Morgan will fill an international roster slot.
“Ashtone is a player who has tremendous MLS and Champions League experience at a very good organization in this league. He’s won a championship in this league and he’s been on our radar for a long time,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “We’re really excited to add him to our defensive group, which we feel is already excellent and will only get better with his addition.”
Morgan, 28, has spent all nine seasons of his professional career with Toronto FC, where he won MLS Cup in 2017. A product of Toronto FC’s Academy, Morgan has two goals and 11 assists in 127 MLS appearances, 92 as a starter. In addition to winning MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in 2017, Morgan also helped TFC to five Canadian Championships. He has 19 appearances in the annual tournament to crown the best club in Canada and 22 appearances in CONCACAF Champions League, notching one goal in international tournament in 2018.
The Toronto native has 18 appearances with the Canadian National Team, most recently appearing in two friendlies against Barbados on January 10 and Iceland on January 15, both in Irvine, California.
“Ashtone brings experience at left back and comes in to battle for a position so we can get the best out of that position. We think we have a very good left back in Donny, but bringing in Ashtone hopefully brings the best out of both of them,” RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. “We expect him to come in and be a leader, incorporate himself into the group and add some quality to keep us going forward.”
Real Salt Lake finished the 2019 season third in the Western Conference at 16-13-5 (53 points) and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive season. RSL will open the 2020 season on the road against Orlando City SC on February 29 before returning to Rio Tinto Stadium for the home opener against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, March 7, at 12 p.m. MT.
TRANSACTION: Signed defender Ashtone Morgan as an international on January 21, 2020.
Real Salt Lake's current roster headed into 2020, listed alphabetically by position, is below:
Goalkeepers (3): Zac MacMath, David Ochoa, Andrew Putna
Defenders (8): Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Alvin Jones, Ashtone Morgan, Nedum Onuoha, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia
Midfielders (8): Luis Arriaga, Kyle Beckerman, Nick Besler, Damir Kreilach, Everton Luiz, Justin Portillo, Pablo Ruiz, Albert Rusnák
Forwards (8): Corey Baird, Maikel Chang, Milan Iloski, Sam Johnson, Douglas Martinez, Jefferson Savarino, Tate Schmitt, Julian Vazquez
