Real Salt Lake signs first-round SuperDraft pick Matthew Bell to 4-year deal
Real Salt Lake signs first-round SuperDraft pick Matthew Bell to 4-year deal
The former Marshall standout joins RSL after being picked No. 16 overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.
Shortly after sending one member of the “Reggae Boyz” on loan for the 2024 season, Real Salt Lake made official the signing of another Jamaican international.
The club has signed former Marshall winger Matthew Bell to a four-year contract, RSL announced Monday, inking the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft to a contract through the 2027 MLS season.
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Bell earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore with the Thundering Herd, setting a program record with 10 goals and 12 assists en route to MAC Hermann Trophy watch list honors.
“I think the style of play that RSL plays is how I would love to play — I’m so excited to continue down this path,” Bell said. “I can’t wait to get started and hopefully we’ll build an everlasting relationship. And I hope to be at the club for many, many years and hopefully I can win some championships.
Bell spent the entirety of the preseason with RSL, including trips to Portugal and Santa Barbara, California, as his signing became more and more expected in recent days.
“I’ve enjoyed the preseason so far and I look forward to learning and growing each and every day, tryin to fit the style of play and show the coaches how to best use me. I think that’s what I want for my career as well. I’m excited to see what it brings and I’m just really excited. I don’t even know what to say because it’s such a big moment for me in my life. It’s just really exciting at the moment and I’m so eager to play.
“I think I’m the type of player who can come in and impact right away, but I also know that if the coaching staff feels I need to be in the second team, I’m open to that too. I’m open to learning and growing as a player because this is just the start of my career. I’m also very ambitious, and I’m very goal oriented, and I think I could potentially impact the first team, and hopefully get a lot of minutes this year, and just grow as a player and help the Club to win trophies.”
RSL opens the 2024 MLS regular season Wednesday at Inter Miami CF (6 p.m. MST, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).