RSL swaps offense for defense in deal sending Anderson Julio to Dallas

SALT LAKE CITY — A fan favorite and electric goalscorer is leaving Real Salt Lake as the club looks to stabilize its defensive depth.

RSL announced a trade Monday sending forward Anderson Julio to FC Dallas in exchange for defender Sam Junqua and up to $500,000 in general allocation money.

Chief soccer officer Kurt Schmid said the deal should provide context for the trade the team made just three days ago on MLS SuperDraft day to bring forward Elias Manoel to Utah from the New York Red Bulls for $700,000 in general allocation money.

"(Manoel) comes in and has a lot of characteristics and traits that Ando (Julio) had," Schmid said. "We feel that we're able to compensate for some of that loss and solve a depth concern on the back line and pick up Sam (Junqua), a guy that we think can compete to get in the starting lineup."

Junqua is a six-year MLS veteran and California native — including four years with the University of California, Berkeley soccer team — with over 100 appearances for the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas since 2019.

His primary position as listed on Transfermarkt is left back, but Schmid said he believes Junqua can compete at two positions on the back line, possibly moving to center-back at times as head coach Pablo Mastroeni was able to do with outside backs Bryan Oviedo and Bode Hidalgo last season when injuries took a major toll on the RSL defense.

RSL loses nine goals from last season in the departure of Julio after the Ecuadorian had his best year in Claret and Cobalt. He appeared in over 100 matches for RSL over four seasons and was nominated for MLS Goal of the Year last month for his strike from midfield against his new club.

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