MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Acquires Salt Lake City Native Justin Braun Montreal

Published on July 11, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (July 11, 2012) - Real Salt Lake announced Wednesday that the club has acquired Salt Lake City-native Justin Braun from the Montreal Impact in exchange for a conditional 2014 SuperDraft pick.

A 6-foot-3, 195 pound forward, the 25-year-old Braun will provide depth at striker during the club's impending CONCACAF Champions League run and MLS Cup Playoff push. A 6-foot-3, 195 pound forward, the 25-year-old Braun will provide depth up top for RSL during the club's impending CONCACAF Champions League run and MLS Cup Playoff push. RSL has 14 regular-season games remaining in its MLS campaign, along with four group stage matches against CS Herediano (Costa Rica) and Tauro FC (Panama) in CCL play, which kicks off July 31.

Currently in his fifth MLS season, Braun spent his first four years in the league with Chivas USA, signing with the Southern California side after being spotted while playing for the Utah Select Team in an amateur tournament at the Home Depot Center in January 2008.

Braun had a big impact at Chivas USA, scoring 24 goals in 96 regular season games with the Goats. His best year came in 2010, when he led Chivas USA with nine goals in 28 appearances, including 24 starts. Braun also had a solid 2011, tying for the Chivas USA lead with eight goals while adding five assists.

Braun was acquired by Montreal on Nov. 23, 2011, heading north of the border in a trade that sent him and midfielder Gerson Mayen from Chivas USA to the expansion side in exchange for defender James Riley. He didn't see much time under Impact head coach Jesse Marsch, playing in just 12 of Montreal's 20 games and registering a lone assist before joining RSL on Wednesday.

For his career, Braun has 24 goals and 13 assists in 108 regular season MLS games. He also has experience with the U.S. national team, receiving call-ups to camps in both January 2010 and January 2011.

Braun, whose family continues to live in the Salt Lake City area, was a prep star at Salt Lake City's Skyline High School, earning first-team All-State honors and leading the state in scoring in both his junior and senior years. After high school, Braun went on to play at Salt Lake Community College, but was not drafted out of school, playing for amateur teams in the Salt Lake area before being noticed - and signed - by then-Chivas USA coach Preki in 2008.

Braun will wear No. 13 for RSL.

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