Real Salt Lake sends FW Anderson Julio to FC Dallas for Sam Junqua, up to $500K in GAM
The 28-year-old left-sided defender played in 65 games across all competitions for Dallas in 2023-24, scoring four goals.
The offseason is a two-way street for Real Salt Lake, which completed the trade sending forward Anderson Julio to FC Dallas early Monday morning.
The club received Dallas defender Sam Junqua and up to $500,000 in general allocation money in the deal that sends the two-year veteran of 129 matches across all competitions to a Western Conference rival.
In addition to Julio, RSL will send $200,000 in general allocation money to FC Dallas in 2025 and $200,000 guaranteed in 2026, with as much as $100,000 being added based on players in the deal meeting certain, undisclosed incentives.
Junqua, a 28-year-old left-sided defender played in 65 games across all competitions for Dallas in 2023-24, scoring four goals. The Cal alum was drafted No. 8 overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by the Houston Dynamo, and made 17 appearances with the club’s USL affiliate in Rio Grande Valley before emerging in 18 starts in 2022 prior to his move to Dallas in 2023.
“Adding depth and versatility across the back line – especially as it comes from a veteran of our league over the last six seasons – is necessary,” said RSL chief soccer officer Kurt Schmid, whose office has been busy lately with the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and a trade for Red Bulls forward Elias Manoel for $550,000 in GAM spread over two seasons. “As we prepare for multiple competitions and a gauntlet of games in the early-season schedule, we expect that Sam will bolster our stability in the setup.”
Julio scored 28 goals with nine assists across all competitions during his time with Salt Lake, including a career-high nine goals during the 2024 MLS regular season.
“Julio is a player we've been monitoring for a long time,” FC Dallas sporting director André Zanotta said of the Ecuadorian international who arrived in Salt Lake from Liga MX side Atlético San Luis in 2020-21. “He played against us and scored in some of those games. Bringing him to Dallas is huge for us. We believe he fits very well with what Eric Quill wants for our team, and I think he will integrate well into Dallas. We can't wait for him to start with us in January.”
Real Salt Lake opens the 2024 season Feb. 19 in CONCACAF Champions Cup play against Costa Rica’s CS Herediano, prior to its 2025 MLS regular-season kickoff Feb. 22 at San Jose.
NEW ADDITION – Sam Junqua
Pronunciation: “JUNK – wuh”
Position: Forward
Hometown: Saratoga, Calif.
College: Cal-Berkeley
Date of Birth: 9 November 1996 (28)
Nationality: American
How Acquired: Signed via trade from FC Dallas (Major League Soccer)
TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake acquires DF Sam Junqua from FC Dallas, along with a total of $500,000 in General Allocation Money, in exchange for FW Anderson Julio. RSL receives $200,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM) and another $200,000 in 2025 GAM, along with up to another $100,000 in incentive-based GAM.