SANDY, Utah (Thursday, February 6, 2020) - Real Salt Lake has signed forward Jeizon Ramírez on a transfer from Tachira in Venezuela. The 18-year-old winger is signed as a Young Designated Player and will join RSL in preseason, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.

“Jeizon is a dynamic attacking player with a nose for goal and a playmaking ability to create for his teammates,” RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. “He is already an experienced professional and can help our team immediately, but at just 18 years old, has tremendous capacity to develop. We are excited to see what he will be able to do under the tutelage of our staff and development structure.”

Ramírez made his professional debut at 16 years old in the playoffs for Tachira in the Venezuelan top flight. He went on to score five goals with seven assists in 2,343 minutes over 46 regular season matches in two seasons, adding an assist in the playoffs in 2019. In addition, he helped Tachira qualify for the Copa Libertadores.

Real Salt Lake has been at the forefront of youth development in Major League Soccer, seeing more minutes from its Homegrown players in the last two seasons than any other team in MLS. In addition to developing its own Academy products, the club has shown a commitment to signing young players from abroad with an eye toward progressing their careers for club and country. In 2017, Real Salt Lake signed Albert Rusnák at 22 years old and he has gone on to score 27 goals with 26 assists in three seasons to be among the top young playmakers in MLS in that span. In that same year, Jefferson Savarino signed at 20 and has 20 goals and 20 assists. Along with their success with RSL, both have also broken into their national teams and become regular contributors since making the move to Utah.

Real Salt Lake finished the 2019 season third in the Western Conference at 16-13-5 (53 points) and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive season. RSL will open the 2020 season on the road against Orlando City SC on February 29 before returning to Rio Tinto Stadium for the home opener against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, March 7, at 12 p.m. MT.

RSL is currently in the third leg of preseason training camp in Herriman, Utah, preparing for the club’s 16th season in Major League Soccer.

TRANSACTION: Signed forward Jeizon Ramírez as a Young Designated Player on February 6, 2020.