Bobby Wood’s Arrival Is Pending Wife’s Delivery After Hamburger SV Terminates Contract

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Bobby Wood has been released from his contract with Hamburger SV and is now available to join Real Salt Lake ahead of the 2021 MLS season.

However, Wood will not be joining RSL until his wife, Ditte, gives birth. Ditte is giving birth to the Wood family’s second child in her home country of Denmark. She is expected to have the baby early in May.

“My wife is giving birth to our second child in May,” Wood told KSL Sports earlier this month.

Wood can now officially sign with RSL, but will likely not join the team until the middle of May at the earliest. Then, once he passes all quarantine protocols and testing, it will take him time to acclimatize to his new club, the altitude, and regaining his fitness.

Unless Ditte (Wood's wife) decides to have the baby in Utah then his arrival ain't happening anytime soon.

For ESPN to suggest that he will join RSL ahead of the 2021 MLS season is wrong.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. pic.twitter.com/nd92jE1iCc

— Tom Hackett (@TomCantHackett) April 13, 2021

MLS and European quarantine restrictions make Wood joining RSL more challenging than it would under normal circumstances. Denmark requires those traveling internationally to quarantine for 10 days upon the arrival. Whereas, MLS has implemented a rule that requires players traveling internationally to quarantine for five days.

Wood has expressed his excitement in returning to North America on a permanent basis for the first time in 14 years. He cannot wait to help forge the new generation of RSL forward and through hard work and perseverance is determined to bring success back to Utah again.

RSL Club Statement

“We are in touch with Bobby. He is currently tending to a personal situation in Europe. We look forward to having him in Salt Lake as soon as possible,” RSL told KSL Sports.

It remains unknown when Wood will join RSL. It does sound like it could be sooner than the original date of July 1. But regardless, the notion that Wood will join RSL prior to their 2021 MLS season starting is very, very unlikely.

KSL Sports will have more to this story when new information becomes available.