After 5 years in Europe, Zach Booth is coming home with Real Salt Lake
The former U.S. youth international from Eden, Utah, was acquired by his home state's MLS side on loan from Excelsior Rottendam in the Netherlands.
Zach Booth spent two years in Real Salt Lake’s academy system, but the Eden, Utah, native never made an appearance with the club’s professional teams.
At 21, he’ll get that chance this year.
The former U.S. youth international will spend the 2026 season at Real Salt Lake on loan from Eredivisie side Excelsior Rottendam, the two clubs announced Wednesday.
Booth’s deal includes an option to buy as the midfielder looks for more playing time than the three matches (including one start) he played last year.
“RSL is home – I was part of the first Academy group when the group relocated to Herriman,” said Booth. “I’m grateful for the development the club gave me through those years as a player and as a person. It’s a dream come true for me to have the opportunity to play for the fans at America First Field — and to contribute my talents to the club, the team culture, and to the state of Utah.
“I am ready to compete and contribute everything I have to RSL. It just feels right to be back and I look forward to every moment.”
Booth and his brother Taylor were breakout stars at LaRoca FC on the local soccer scene before moving overseas to Europe. And while the 24-year-old Taylor broke through with Utrecht and FC Twente after leaving Bayern Munich’s youth team, younger brother Zach’s route has been more circuitious.
The younger Booth first signed with Leicester City’s academy in September 2020, but made just 17 appearances with the Premier League 2 side in three years before a season-long loan to Volendam in the Netherlands.
After scoring two goals with two assists in 27 appearances, including 16 starts, he returned to the Eredivisie on a three-year contract with Excelsior in 2023. The then-20-year-old initially found success, starting five matches in 19 appearances to help Rottendam to a second-place finish in the Eerste Divisie and earn promotion to the top flight for the 2025-26 campaign.
But he played just 106 total minutes in three matches, leading to him seeking additional opportunities.
A return to the Wasatch Front may be good for his personal life, as well. Booth recently married his wife Kate in Paris, and the two Utah natives spent time in the Netherlands this past year.
But Kate (née Howes) had a career of her own. The former all-state forward from Bountiful spent two seasons at Portland before transferring to Memphis, where she started two of 15 matches with one goal and one assist while earning All-Academic honors from the American Conference.
She also played for Utah United last summer, the expansion side that won a USL League Two in its inaugural season behind breakout stars Seven Castain, Kaitlyn Richins and Ellie Walbruch, after playing for LaRoca’s WPSL team in 2024.
Because she only played three seasons of college soccer, Kate Booth may have one final season of eligibility from the NCAA — and sources indicated that at least one of the state’s seven Division I schools are interested in her using it while her husband spends time at RSL.
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