Real Salt Lake sign academy standout Fito Ovalle as homegrown player

Real Salt Lake announced tonight that they signed Adolfo "Fito" Ovalle to a Homegrown contract.  The 17-year-old academy standout has spent two years with the RSL-Arizona Academy before joining the senior side.

Ovalle played regularly with the RSL U-16/17 and the U-18s in 54 matches as a defensive midfielder.

Ovalle was born in Chile but raised in Layton, Utah, and he joins a select few Utah natives to sign with the Claret-and-Cobalt, including RSL members Sebastian Saucedo and Phanuel Kavita and ex-RSLer Justin Braun, who currently plays with Sacramento FC.

After a standout performance with RSL this preseason, where he played far beyond his years, Fito joins the senior squad as an elite player.  Having been capped by the Chilean youth U20s twice within the last year, Ovalle has a resume like a player further into their career.

Last summer Fito made a verbal agreement to commit to the University of Maryland, but his signing means that's now a moot point. (Ed. note: This mistakenly read that it could push back his move to college.)

Expect Ovalle to be used as a defensive midfielder for the Claret-and-Cobalt, but do not be surprised if the coaching staff experiments with him in other positions. The ceiling is high for this talented youth and we are glad to welcome him on board.