Monarchs GK Christian Herrera joins Pachuca on year-long loan

Real Monarchs goalkeeper Christian Herrera has joined Liga MX side Pachua on a one-year loan with an option to buy, according to a club-issued press release.

Herrera, 18, signed with Real Monarchs late last year and did not make an appearance with the team. He was a graduate of Real Salt Lake's Arizona-based academy, and he continued to appear for them after signing his professional contract.

This move is one of several players from the Real Salt Lake organization heading to Mexico. He joins Luis Gil (Queretaro), Luis Silva (Tigres), and Sebastian Saucedo (on loan to Veracruz). Saucedo and Carlos Salcedo (Chivas) are two RSL-AZ players who have preceded him into the league.

In a press release, RSL general manger Craig Waibel said that the move could give Herrera a greater opportunity to develop.

"This opportunity came up and after discussing it with Christian and the Monarchs coaching staff we agreed that it would be a good fit for the player and the club," he said in the release. "Christian will have the chance now to get some playing time that frankly wouldn’t come because of the depth we have at the goalkeeper position and Pachuca is a great club at developing young talent, so it’s a great opportunity for him."

Herrera has been courted by the Mexican national team youth system, having recently trained with the Mexico U-20s. He had previously been a part of both Mexico and US U-18 setups.