TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Extension
Ahead of the MLS is Back Tournament, Real Salt Lake have signed midfielder Nick Besler to a contract extension, the club announced Friday.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers, Besler has been with RSL since 2017, scoring two goals in 41 career MLS games. He's also featured in 35 matches with the club's USL Championship affiliate Real Monarchs, captaining them to the USL Regular Season Championship Shield in 2017 while scoring three goals and dishing out one assist in 31 games.
Besler featured in 17 first-team matches last season, scoring one goal and recording two assists, and started each of RSL's first two matches of 2020.
“We’re excited to keep Nick here. He is a player of the culture that you want to try to develop as a coach. He works extremely hard every day, he’s always ready to go and is a player that has earned a lot of respect from his teammates,” RSL head coach Freddy Juarez said in Friday's release. “He’s an important player for us and I think he will be a bit player for us going into this Orlando trip.”
Before turning pro, Besler was a four-year standout at the University of Notre Dame, where he played in 72 matches, scoring two goals and helping lead the Fighting Irish to the NCAA national championship in 2013.
