RSL adds Greek DF Alexandros Katranis on 3-year deal

The 25-year-old former Greece youth international joins Real Salt Lake from Polish side Piast Galwice, where he has played since 2021.

If you thought Real Salt Lake’s offseason acquisitions were finished, think again.

The club signed Greek defender Alexandros Katranis to an MLS contract through the 2025 season, with club options for both 2026 and 2027, the team announced Friday morning.

The 25-year-old former Greece youth international joins Real Salt Lake from Polish side Piast Galwice, where he has played since 2021. A professional since he signed his first contract with hometown side Atromitos just after his 18th birthday in the summer of 2016, the youngster has 168 professional appearances in France, Belgium, Greece and Turkey as he sets his sights on North America and MLS.

“From the first moment I found out that there was a possibility to participate in such a big league like MLS, with globally-recognized teams and players, I really was more than excited,” said Katranis, who will join RSL in Portugal for the club’s final week of preseason training in the Iberian peninsula. “Also, the manner in which the entire RSL organization approached me during this negotiation period was amazing. So that made the decision very easy. I am also very happy that in the next few days I will get to know the coaches and team staff, and I will beAfter able to train with my new teammates.”

After returning 10 of 11 starters from last year’s playoff-caliber squad, here’s a look at RSL’s roster as it stands int he 2024 preseason:

• GK: Zac MacMath, Tomas Gomez, Gavin Beavers

• DF: Kevin Bonilla, Andrew Brody, Emeka Eneli, Zack Farnsworth, Justen Glad, Aiden Hezarkhani*, Bode HIdalgo, Erik Holt, Alex Katranis, Kevon Lambert, Jaziel Orozco^, Bryan Oviedo, Delentz Pierre, Luis Rivera, Marcelo Silva, Tommy Silva, Brayan Vera.

• MF: Fidel Barajas, Matthew Bell*, Maikel Chang, Diegol Una, Luca Moisa*, Braian Ojeda, Nelson Palacio, Thomas Roberts*, Pablo Ruiz, Jude Wellings.

• FW: Chicho Arango, Zavier Gozo, Andres Gomez, Bertin Jacquesson, Anderson Julio, Axel Kei, Ilijah Paul, Rubio Rubin^.

*Trialist/RSL Academy/Monarchs/Not signed to a first-team contract

^On loan