Colombian defender Brayan Vera signs 3-to-5-year deal with RSL
Vera, primarily a left back, joins an RSL side in need of defensive depth.
Real Salt Lake has announced the signing of Colombia defender Brayan Vera on a transfer from CD América de Calí, bringing the club's roster closer to a full state ahead of the start of the 2023 MLS season.
Vera, 24, signed a three-year deal with option years for 2026 and 2027. The RSL release notes he "arrives … on a TAM designation," meaning the club has used targeted allocation money to buy down Vera's salary impact below the designated player mark.
Vera's positional history has largely seen him at left back, but occasional appearances over the years at center back have been recorded. Before joining Cali, Vera played at Lecce in Italy, and he played on loan at Serie B side Cosenza.
From a club-issued release, Real Salt Lake general manager Elliot Fall:
Brayan is yet another piece that provides depth and competition on our back line, as he is equally adept both on the left side as well as centrally. We believe that Brayan’s path from Colombia to Italy and back to South America during his formative professional years have prepared him to be a key piece for our 2023 roster and beyond.
Brayan Vera:
People I trust believe that Major League Soccer’s quality will test my skills and advance my playing career. I’ve seen the growth of football in North America and I see the fan culture, the work ethic, the family atmosphere in and around Real Salt Lake. I cannot wait for the opportunity to help lead this club to hardware across the various cups and competitions we face in 2023 and the following years.