Real Salt Lake signs 4 teenagers to MLS deals after Monarchs debuts
With the additions, Real Salt Lake has now signed 45 homegrowns straight from the academy, the most in Major League Soccer.

Real Salt Lake’s motto of “winning together through development” will continue in the 2025 season, after the club announced four. more RSL Academy players have signed Major League Soccer developmental contracts Thursday afternoon.
The club has agreed with midfielder Owen Anderson, midfielder Aiden Hezarkhani, midfielder Omar Marquez and defender Juan Gio Villa to MLS deals after the quartet also competed with Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT Pro a year ago.
With the additions, Real Salt Lake has now signed 45 homegrowns straight from the academy, the most in Major League Soccer. The group is likely to represent primarily for Real Monarchs in 2025, but could each is now available to be called up to the RSL first team, as well.
“Each of these four fantastic young men have more than earned this heightened professional opportunity” said RSL assistant general manager Tony Beltran in a statement from the club. “I couldn’t think of better representatives to wear the RSL / Monarchs badges than Owen, Aiden, Omar and Gio, with their collective poise, passion, and integrity — just to name a few of the characteristics that enable our Academy products to succeed at the Monarchs and MLS levels.
“These gentlemen have exhibited great character during their time within the organization, and we are beyond excited to see their evolutions and growth as players, both on and off the pitch.”
Anderson, 17, hails from Northern California but made 16 appearances for head coach Mark Lowry’s side a year ago as an academy callup. He finished as the club’s co-leading scorer with five goals, including a two-minute, second-half brace in a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids 2 back in August to cap a four-game, four-goal run.
Hezarkhani, who hails from southern California, received a training camp callup by RSL boss Pablo Mastroeni a year ago during preseason before appearing 15 times for Real Monarchs, including nine starts with two goals and an assist.
The U.S. youth international is joined by playmaker Omar Marquez, the 16-year-old who began his career with the Sacramento Republic FC academy and appeared in 17 MLS NEXT Pro matches with five starts last season.
Mexico youth international Villa is the final signing after the 16-year-old from Chicago joined the RSL Academy in 2022-23 from Chicago Fire FC.