Real Salt Lake Trades For New York Red Bulls Striker, Draft Picks
Dec 20, 2024, 11:57 AM | Updated: 2:03 pm
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah – Looking to improve its attack, Real Salt Lake acquired the contract of forward Elias Manoel and four MLS SuperDraft picks five days before Christmas. Real Salt Lake agreed to pay $700,000 to the New York Red Bulls in the deal.
RSL and New York announced the trade on Friday, December 20.
“Adding a dynamic striker in Elias to our roster is promising,” RSL Chief Soccer Officer Kurt Schmid said of the acquisition. “As we prepare for multiple competitions and a gauntlet of games in the early-season schedule, we believe Elias will hit the ground running in our setup. He knows the League, he works hard on both sides of the ball, and we are excited to welcome him to Utah for the 2025 season.”
Moving to the Beehive State from the Big Apple
Welcome to the club, Elias!!
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) December 20, 2024
In 2024, the 23-year-old played 33 MLS matches with New York, scoring eight goals and four assists. Manoel has 12 goals and added 10 assists in 63 MLS games.
Manoel is the first Red Bull and sixth player in MLS history to record a postseason hat-trick in a 5-2 win against Charlotte FC in 2023.
RELATED: Real Salt Lake Announces 2025 Schedule
The Brazil native played parts of three seasons with New York after being the leading goal-scorer in the 2022 Campeonato Gaucho while playing for Gremio.
Real Salt Lake begins preseason preparation on January 11, 2025. Before beginning MLS play, RSL will face CS Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday, February 19.
How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake opens the 2025 MLS regular season against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, February 22.
All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram.
You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.