SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has started the new year off with a bang after finalizing a deal with USMNT striker Rubio Rubin.

Rubin, 24, joins RSL after most recently being a member of Landon Donovans San Diego Loyal roster in which Rubin scored seven goals in five games for the USL side.

“We’ve kept tabs on him from a young age and we are excited to bring him in,” Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. “He is young but has experience playing in Europe and Mexico. We hope to be able to help in his continued development and with his quality, he can add a lot to our roster.”

Despite being so young, Rubin has bounced around soccer clubs. RSL will mark his eighth stint at a club since 2014 when he decided to venture into Europe and neglected a homegrown offer from his hometown club the Portland Timbers.

Rubio! Rubio! Ru. Bi. Oooooooooooo!

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 7, 2021

Furthermore, Rubin has also climbed the ranks of international soccer having played for the US U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams before making his debut for the first team against Colombia in a 2-1 defeat on November 14th, 2014.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and challenge to play for Real Salt Lake,” Rubin said. “I’m looking forward to helping the team win games and work towards winning a championship.”

In 2012, Rubin was named the U.S. Soccer Young Athlete Of The Year, an award which he shares with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Landon Donovan, and most recently Gio Reyna.