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Yura Movsisyan isn’t going back to Russia this offseason.
Not for good, at least: Real Salt Lake has officially completed a transfer for the striker, ESPN 700 radio personality Bill Riley tweeted today. Movsisyan will be on a multi-year contract deal with a likely standard club option year.
BREAKING...#RSL makes striker @YuraMovsisyan permanent member via transfer He had been on loan from FC Spartak Moscow. @ESPN700
— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) October 10, 2016
Movsisyan sticking around is perhaps predictable. He fit in well with the team, and despite an injury or two keeping him out at times, he’s been an effective member of the team. Most of the issues with our attacking quality haven’t been centered around him.
Salt Lake Tribune reporter Chris Kamrani dropped a story at the same time as the Riley announcement, with quotes from both RSL general manger Craig Waibel and Movsisyan himself.
Waibel
"When you target a player, you want to make sure they have effective years left," Waibel said. "When you make a Designated Player investment, you want to make sure they have multiple years left. System-wise, this is a guy who fits."
Movsisyan
"I knew from Day 1 that I wanted to make this a permanent move," Movsisyan told The Salt Lake Tribune. "I didn't want to wait until December, because I wanted to get this thing done and squared away."