SANDY, Utah (Friday, December 15, 2017) – Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel announced that the club has signed DF Taylor Peay after the Salt Lake City native helped Real Monarchs SLC win the 2017 USL Regular Season Championship Shield. RSL acquired the right of first refusal for Peay in a trade with the Portland Timbers, sending a third round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for the 26-year-old.

“Taylor comes from a championship background with the Monarchs and Timbers. With that experience he has earned the opportunity with the first team to continue his growth as a player,” Waibel said. “He was an important piece to the championship season for the Monarchs and he went above and beyond in his efforts to remain connected in the community and those are important qualities for us.”

A graduate of Brighton High School in Salt Lake City, Peay played in 21 matches for the Monarchs in 2017, making 18 starts. A versatile defender who has played both as a right back and a center back, Peay helped the USL club to a historic year with two goals and one assist in addition to his veteran defensive presence in a season that saw the Monarchs break several USL records.

“I’m very excited for a great opportunity like this,” Peay said. “I’m ready to get to work for the club I grew up supporting in my hometown. For my family and I, RSL is something special and I’m excited to have the opportunity to represent the club.”

Before his homecoming with the Monarchs, Peay was with the Timbers, appearing in seven MLS matches over three seasons, including the club’s MLS Cup championship season in 2015. The University of Washington product was selected 26th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft after helping revitalize the Husky soccer program, leading Washington to its first Pac-12 title since 2000 in his senior season.

The third round pick (63rd overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft that Real Salt Lake sent to Portland was originally held by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. RSL acquired that pick in exchange for DF Aaron Maund on August 9, 2017.

Transaction: Real Salt Lake acquires right of first refusal for DF Taylor Peay from the Portland Timbers in exchange for a third round pick (63rd overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. RSL then signs DF Taylor Peay.