MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Sign Homegrown Defender Erik Holt to Contract Extension

Published on January 9, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


HERRIMAN, Utah - Real Salt Lake has signed current Homegrown and former RSL Academy defender Erik Holt to a three-year contract extension with an option for a fourth year, keeping him with the Club through at least the 2025 season.

"I'm very excited to build off my time here at the Club and its great to have clarity for the longer term," said Holt, who appeared in 17 combined RSL and Monarchs games for the Club a year ago. "We have a phenomenal, player-led culture here, one which helps me improve on and off the field each and every day, not just as a player but as a person. In our locker room, we are all leaders, holding each other accountable to control our actions and own our habits for the group's success. I heard that 'true hell is when the person you are meets the person you could have been.' Along those lines, I'm excited to continue to become the best I can, always fighting for this Club and our fans."

Holt, 26, first signed with Real Salt Lake on January 3, 2019, as the Club's 20th all-time Homegrown Player following four years as a Bruin at the University of California, Los Angeles. In his four seasons as a member of the Claret-and-Cobalt, Holt has registered 40 MLS appearances, starting in 29 of those. Holt's first and only goal with the Club came at the most opportune time, a stoppage-time stunner to give Real Salt Lake the 2-1 victory at home on June 18, 2021 over Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Holt also has two assists across all competitions for Real Salt Lake, one against Minnesota United in 2020 and another last year in the team's Leagues Cup Showcase match against Liga MX side, Atlas FC.

During his first year with Real Salt Lake in 2019, the rookie defender played an instrumental role in helping Real Monarchs lift the Club's first-ever USL Championship trophy. In the midst of the Monarchs' championship run Holt scored two critical playoff goals. Holt's first USL Championship playoff goal was a 120th minute game-winner against El Paso Locomotive in the Western Conference Final; the second an equalizer that sparked the momentum shift for the Monarchs to defeat Louisville City and clinch the Championship trophy. Overall, Holt has played 29 matches and scored four goals for Real Monarchs across USL and MLS NEXT Pro action.

Following his time with the RSL Academy and prior to signing his first professional contract with Real Salt Lake, Holt recorded one goal and five assists in 71 appearances for UCLA. As part of the RSL Academy, during its time in Arizona, Holt helped RSL earned the nation's best record in 2015, including a three-month unbeaten streak in U.S. Soccer Development Academy competition.

Last fall, Real Salt Lake closed out its 18th MLS season, falling in the First Round of the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs via penalty-kick shootout tiebreaker at Austin FC, following a 2-2 regulation / extra-time deadlock that saw RSL play the final 67 minutes plus stoppage time down a man following FW Rubio Rubin's second yellow card. To qualify for the postseason, RSL earned four points in its final pair of contests to vault itself past Portland Timbers FC and capture the seventh and final Western Conference postseason seed, advancing to the postseason for the fourth time in five years, and for the 12th occasion in the last 15 seasons.

Utah's Major League Soccer side kicks off 2023 preseason with its first on-ball training sessions this week, as Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni's preseason preparations see the Club in Utah, California and Arizona in advance of the Club's 19th regular-season kickoff on the weekend of Saturday, February 25 at Vancouver. RSL's 2023 Home Opener is slated for Sat., March 11 against Austin FC in a playoff rematch; tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets. During the past two seasons, RSL has earned an 18W-7L-9T home record at what is now known as America First Field in Sandy, setting a new Club mark in 2022 with 17 sellout crowds in as many MLS contests at the suburban Salt Lake venue, which celebrates the 15th anniversary of its opening in October, 2023.

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