Nedum Onuoha to retire following MLS season

In an announcement that is anything but a surprise at this point, Real Salt Lake center back Nedum Onuoha is set to retire following the conclusion of the MLS regular season, according to a Real Salt Lake press release.

This aligns closely with the understand when he joined the club in Sept. 2018; at the time, Onuoha had been clear publicly that he wanted to play in the U.S. before he ended his career, and he intended to retire at the end of his contract.

Despite being at the club for two seasons plus a small fraction, Onuoha has managed an outsized influence on the fabric of the club. When RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen furloughed employees during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Onuoha was quick to organize a fund for those affected.

When Dell Loy Hansen spoke publicly following a strike from MLS players, Onuoha was among the first players to speak publicly, including interviews with large English media outlets like the BBC.

Through his time at the club, Onuoha has been a vocal figure, an impactful player on the field, and one of the bright spots during a chaotic time for the club.