Rubio Rubins signs multi-year contract extension with Real Salt Lake

Forward Rubio Rubin has signed a multi-year contract extension with Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake, keeping him at the club through 2024 with a club option for the 2025 season.

The club rewarded the player after a phenomenal first season, recording four goals and two assists in twelve games. 

Rubio kicked off his professional career in 2014 with Eredivisie team FC Utrecht, where he scored four goals in 43 matches with the senior team. He bounced around Europe, playing for Silkeborg IF in Denmark and Stabæk in Norway before returning to North America with Liga MX side Xolos.

Rubin finally signed with Real Salt Lake in January following his time with United Soccer League Championship side San Diego Loyal. Internationally, Rubio has made seven appearances for the US men’s national team between 2014 and 2018. 

"I’m thankful to Real Salt Lake for this opportunity. It has been a long time since I can say a place has been my home and I look forward to continue doing the things I’ve been doing – scoring goals for this club and for the fans," Rubin said in Monday's announcement.

"Ultimately, I want to help the team win and be successful and hopefully one day winning MLS Cup. We have those ambitions as a team and I’m excited to have a place that I can work for an extended amount where I can enjoy the process of getting better every day to reach for those goals.”

RSL general manager Elliot Fall and head coach Freddy Juarez are equally as excited for the player’s onboarding, planning out a long term change for the club around Rubio. 

“From the day Rubio first set foot in Salt Lake he established himself as a piece of this roster that we want to build around,” RSL general manager Fall said.

"We felt based on his performances earlier this year and his previous contractual situation that it was important to reward his commitment to the team, his commitment to the club and his quality. We are extremely excited that we were able to come to an agreement to keep him in Salt Lake for a long time."

Head coach Juarez said: “I’m happy for Rubio. With his quality of play, I think it’s deserved. He is still at a young age to continue to learn and battle, but he’s a good person that is great for the locker room and for the club.

"Not only did we get a good soccer player locked up for a few years, but we get a good human being that can continue to lead the culture in the right direction. I’m happy that he is going to be able to call Salt Lake home.”