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Real Salt Lake Acquires Jonathan Menéndez

May 29, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake has signed forward Jonathan "Jony" Menéndez from Club Atletico Independiente in Argentina using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), the club announced today. He will join the team on a three-year contract pending receipt of his ITC and visa.

"We are incredibly excited to add a player of Jony's quality and experience to our roster," RSL General Manager Elliot Fall said. "He will provide us another dynamic attacking option across our frontline. His ability on the ball and in combination will complement our roster seamlessly."

Menendez, 27, has played most of his career in Argentina's first division, both with Independiente and Club Atletico Talleres, where he has scored 20 goals with 10 assists in 70 matches. During Independiente's current Copa de la Liga season, the winger has two goals and three assists in 10 appearances.

He started his professional career with Chacarita Juniors in the second division in Argentina at 17 years old in 2011. The following year, he made the move to Sevilla B in Spain, scoring four goals in 56 appearances in three seasons before returning to Chacarita Juniors in 2015. After scoring two goals in 12 appearances in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons, he jumped to the first division with Talleres. There he had nine goals and three assists in 22 matches in his first season in the first division in 2016/17. He added one goal and two assists in nine matches the following season before a mid-season transfer to Independiente. There he had six goals and four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions and had loan spells with Al-Rayyan SC in Qatar in 2018/19 and Talleres in 2019/20.

"He is a player that fits our style of play. He is dynamic and fearless," RSL Head Coach Freddy Juarez said. "He wants to get behind the opponent and attack 1v1, but also is a player that can play between the lines for some combination play. We are excited to have him."

Real Salt Lake is 2-1-2 (8 points) in the 2021 MLS regular season and will return to action after Saturday night's match in progress against Minnesota United on Friday June 18 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Rio Tinto Stadium.

TRANSACTION: Acquired forward Jonathan Menéndez from Club Atletico Independiente on May 29, 2021.

Player Information

Name: Jonathan "Jony" Menéndez

Pronunciation: MEH-nen-dezz

Position: Forward

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 160 lbs.

Date of Birth: March 5, 1994

Age: 27

Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Citizenship: Argentina

Last Club: Club Atlético Independiente (Argentina)

How Acquired: Signed on 5-29-2021

Roster Designation: 1) International 2) Target Allocation Money

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