SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake announced today that it has acquired DF Brandon McDonald from D.C. United in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and a conditional pick in 2015.

McDonald joins Real Salt Lake after spending the last two years with D.C., where he made 63 regular season appearances, 62 starts, scored three goals and registered five assists. The 27-year-old McDonald has 137 career regular season appearances, 126 starts, seven goals and nine assists in five plus seasons in MLS.

A Phoenix native, McDonald grew up playing youth soccer with RSL FW Robbie Findley and spent over a year as Claret-and-Cobalt MF Khari Stephenson’s roommate while both played with the San Jose Earthquakes. He comes to Real Salt Lake with fellow center backs Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Chris Schuler and Carlos Salcedo all currently out injured, with Watson-Siriboe out for the year with an ACL tear.

“With the injuries we have had to our center backs we felt it was important to add a talented experienced center back and we got that with Brandon,” Real Salt Lake General Manager Garth Lagerwey said. “We expect him to be a good fit for us both on and off the field as we continue to try and improve our team.”

In order to make room for McDonald on the roster, Real Salt Lake has moved DF Rich Balchan to the Disabled List. Balchan hasn’t played since undergoing shoulder surgery in May.

McDonald will be available for selection on Saturday, when RSL will host Eastern Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City at 8:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to the match – which will be followed a postgame fireworks display in celebration of Pioneer Day – can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

Player Info:

Name: Brandon McDonald

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: Jan. 16, 1986

Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.

College: University of San Francisco

Previous Club: D.C. United