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Real Salt Lake Acquires Chance Cowell from San Jose in Landmark Deal,Eyes 2026 Season with Messi Visit
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Real Salt Lake has considerably bolstered its attacking options with the acquisition of 17-year-old forward Chance Cowell from the San Jose Earthquakes,in a transaction that could reach up to $650,000 in future General Allocation Money (GAM). the deal, announced Tuesday, January 6, 2026, also includes a swap of 2027 MLS SuperDraft third-round selections, signaling a strategic investment in both the present and future of the Utah-based club.
Cowell Joins Growing Pipeline of ‘Quakes Academy Talent
Cowell’s arrival continues a recent trend of Real Salt Lake acquiring promising talent from the San Jose Earthquakes’ academy. He follows in the footsteps of Diego Luna and Owen Anderson, both of whom have successfully transitioned to Utah through their youth growth careers. “This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to identifying and nurturing young talent,” said RSL General Manager Bobby Rhinehart. “Chance is a dynamic player with a bright future,and we are excited to welcome him to the Claret-and-Cobalt.”
Cowell has represented the United States at the under-17, U-16, and U-15 age groups, and for El Tri on its U-15 National Team. This versatility highlights his growing profile on the international stage.
The transaction details reveal that the Earthquakes will retain a percentage of any future transfer or trade involving Cowell, reflecting their belief in his long-term value. The full transfer fee is contingent upon performance-based incentives being achieved prior to June 2030.
2026 Season Set to be a Landmark Year for RSL
Beyond the Cowell acquisition, Real Salt Lake is preparing for a highly anticipated 2026 season, which will coincide with the FIFA World Cup year. In late November, the club unveiled its schedule, highlighted by a historic home match against Lionel Messi and Inter miami CF at America First Field in Sandy on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Fans eager to witness this event can join the 2026 RSL ticketing waitlist at www.RSL.com/tickets.
The Claret-and-Cobalt’s 2026 schedule features a total of 34 regular season games (17 home, 17 away) and promises a series of exciting matchups against international soccer stars. Notable visiting players include Korean superstar Son Heung-min (Los Angeles Football Club, Sept. 5), German legend Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Sept. 19), Mexican favorite Chucky Lozano (San Diego FC, April 18), and fellow German star Marco Reus (LA Galaxy, Nov.7). The complete schedule is available at www.RSL.com.
Preseason Plans Include Portugal and Southern California
Players, coaches, and staff are scheduled to report later this week, with preseason officially kicking off on January 10.real Salt Lake’s preparations for its 22nd MLS campaign will include matches in Portugal and Southern California. The team will return to Lagos, Portugal – a familiar location from their 2024 preseason – to participate in the Atlantic Cup tournament, facing Randers FC (Jan. 22), a former home to RSL striker Yura Movsisyan, and Bröndby (Jan. 26), a club connected to David Blitzer’s global Football Holdings. They will conclude their Iberian experience against FC Dallas (Jan. 30) before returning to Utah on February 1.
Following a week back in Utah,RSL will complete its preseason schedule with games against Orange County SC (Feb. 7),the former club of newly-transferred defender Kobi Henry,and MLS Cup 2024 champions LA Galaxy (Feb. 13) in Southern California.
Season Kickoff and Home opener on the Horizon
Real Salt Lake will begin its 2026 MLS campaign on Saturday, February 21, with an away match against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the reigning Western conference champions.The Claret-and-Cobalt will then return to Utah for their home opener against long-time rivals, the Seattle Sounders FC, on Saturday, February 28. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT, and season ticket and four-game packages are currently available at
