Real Salt Lake Signs Chris Kablan On Loan From Belgium Club Waasland-Beveren

May 4, 2022, 10:21 AM

(Photo courtesy: Laura Dearden of Real Salt Lake.)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake has signed defender Chris Kablan on a loan scheduled to last through the summer, with options to remain at Real Salt Lake throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the club announced.

“My arrival to RSL has been long-anticipated, I’ve heard that everything is well-placed for our success as a locker room and as a Club,” said Kablan in his first 48 hours on the ground, adjusting to altitude. “The facilities are excellent, the staff is organized, I’m looking forward to getting to know my teammates, our fans and the community-at-large.”

Kablan, 27, joins Real Salt Lake from Belgium second division side Waasland-Beveren where he has appeared in 16 fixtures and has scored one goal since debuting in 2021.

Done deal ✔️

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 4, 2022

“Bringing Chris to Salt Lake has been discussed for an extended period with both our technical group and the Blitzer football staff,” said Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall, now in his 15th year with the Club. “We are excited to see how he integrates with the group, his ambition to seize this opportunity, and his potential to provide further depth for our roster. During his time in Belgium, Chris has demonstrated versatility in both a back three and a back four, he can play anywhere across the line, wherever Pablo and the staff might need.”

Prior to joining Waasland, Kablan began his professional career in his native Switzerland for Kriens, where he notched 11 goals in 98 appearances from 2013 to 2017. From 2017 to 2021, the defender played for FC Thun in both the Swiss Super League and the Swiss Challenge League, making 105 appearances and scoring eight goals.

The signing marks the second player to arrive at the club under the growing David Blitzer network. Sergio Córdova joined RSL in February from FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga, a club also owned by Blitzer, and now with the arrival of Kablan, Real Salt Lake enjoys another player previously at a club owned by Blizter.