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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Adds Nottingham Forest MF Braian Ojeda Via Loan

August 4, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


HERRIMAN, Utah - Real Salt Lake added 22-year old MF Braian Ojeda to its roster via one-year loan from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and work visa. The Paraguayan international is the first-ever RSL player to be added to its roster via Major League Soccer's U-22 mechanism

Ojeda joined Nottingham Forest last August at the outset of their EFL Championship campaign, appearing in three matches following a South American club career in his native Paraguay and a year-long loan in Argentina. Throughout Ojeda's first European season, the athletic two-way midfielder made four international appearances for Paraguay, each full FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Ojeda has also made 16 appearances for La Albirroja youth international sides at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 (Olympic) levels.

As an 18-year-old, Ojeda made his professional debut with Paraguay's oldest and most historically-dominant club, Olimpia, who he represented as a youth. Between December, 2018, and August, 2021, Ojeda made 40 appearances with Olimpia, while also spending time on loan in Argentina with first-division side Defensa y Justicia, appearing in 12 matches.

"Braian is a dynamic, two-way midfielder who will bring another option to our already talented group in the center of the pitch," said RSL General Manager Elliot Fall. "He is a player hungry to compete and develop, while also bringing valuable international experience from his time with Nottingham Forest and Paraguay. We look forward to getting him on the ground in Salt Lake and competing for minutes soon."

Ojeda becomes the youngest international on Real Salt Lake's roster, the Paraguayan one year younger than Argentine MF Pablo Ruiz. Ojeda arrives as the Claret-and-Cobalt's second-ever Paraguayan international, joining 2016 FW Pedro Báez. In MLS, Ojeda becomes the ninth Paraguayan, all but one playing in for Western Conference sides. During the League's 27-year history, Ojeda will become the 20th Paraguayan to appear once he logs his first MLS minute.

Major League Soccer's U-22 initiative is designed to allow MLS clubs to add players age 22 and younger to rosters, often with lucrative contracts at a reduced budget charge, decreasing the risk associated with acquiring or retaining players still approaching their prime.

Transaction Details

Braian Ojeda

Pronunciation: BRY-an oh-HEY-duh

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-8

Weight: 170

Hometown: Itauguá, Paraguay

Date of Birth: 27 June 2000 (22)

Nationality: Paraguayan

How Acquired: Signed via MLS U-22 initiative on loan from Nottingham Forest FC (England)

TRANSACTION: Real Salt Lake add MF Braian Ojeda from Nottingham Forest FC (England) on Thursday, August 4, 2022

As of August 4, 2022, Real Salt Lake's current roster during the ongoing MLS campaign, listed alphabetically by position, is as follows:

Goalkeepers (4): Gavin Beavers, Jeff Dewsnup, Tomas Gomez, Zac MacMath

Defenders (10): Andrew Brody, Zack Farnsworth, Justen Glad, Bret Halsey, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Johan Kappelhof, Jaziel Orozco, Marcelo Silva, Tate Schmitt

Midfielders (11): Julio Benitez, Nick Besler, Scott Caldwell, Maikel Chang, Bode Hidalgo, Damir Kreilach, Jasper Löffelsend, Diego Luna, Braian Ojeda, Pablo Ruiz, Jude Wellings

Forwards (9): Sergio Cordova, Chris Garcia, Anderson Julio, Axel Kei, Justin Meram, Danny Musovski, Rubio Rubin, Jefferson Savarino, Bobby Wood

With 34 points accumulated through 23 games of the 2022 MLS campaign, Real Salt Lake (9-7-7, 34 pts, 5th West) is part of an eight-team glut from 3rd to 10th place separated by just five points in the race for the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs (seven teams) and a home postseason match (four teams). Under Pablo Mastroeni, the Club's sixth head coach in 18 seasons, RSL

For the first time in Club history, RSL has opened the year with 12 consecutive sellouts at Rio Tinto Stadium - the 7-1-3 (W-L-T) home record amongst the best in MLS this season - while Mastroeni and staff have utilized 28 players and 24 starters throughout an injury-filled first half of the year, as the Club has seen nearly 160 combined games of player availability lost due to injury, suspension or international duty.

Real Salt Lake finished last season in dramatic fashion, booking its place in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day before making a run to the Western Conference Final following a 14-14-6 regular-season record. Saturday's match at Rio Tinto Stadium against star-studded LAFC featuring Carlos Vela (Mexico), Gareth Bale (Wales) and Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) is expected to threaten the venue's all-time attendance mark, set back in September, 2018, against Zlatan and the LA Galaxy.

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