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SANDY — Real Salt Lake announced the permanent transfer of Ecuadorean winger Anderson Julio on Thursday, bringing the fan favorite back to Utah after effectively missing just 10 games away at Atletico San Luis in Mexico.
Julio scored eight goals in 30 MLS appearances last season on loan from San Luis, becoming known for his late-game heroics off the bench, including three game-winners and six goals in the 88th minute or later.
Locked. pic.twitter.com/5bEpDnyXeG
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 28, 2022
"Bringing Julio back to the RSL family has been a top priority during the last several months," RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. "We know what he brings on and off the field, in the locker room and throughout the community.
"Securing his permanent transfer and his long-term rights as opposed to another season-long loan has been our goal, and we are elated to welcome him back, get him into game shape and watch him flourish as part of our culture."
Julio returns to Utah on a three-year deal, pending approval of his work visa and International Transfer Certificate. The move represents a welcome addition to an RSL squad in desperate need of offensive production, after it was held scoreless over the last three matches.
"I am quite excited to return to Utah; this is what I have wanted for a very long time," Julio said. "I cannot wait to come back and work hard to help Pablo and the boys enjoy much success, and to reward the fans for their love of Real Salt Lake."
The Julio transfer marks the first RSL move of the 2022 transfer window, which closes on May 4. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni said this week he has been involved in transfer discussions and the team hopes to add "one or two players" before the window closes.
The second, after Julio, could be the rumored return of another winger in Jefferson Savarino from Atletico Mineiro in Brazil. Savarino, a native of Venezuela, scored 22 goals in 87 appearances for RSL from 2017-20.
