SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Real Salt Lake has made Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio the first designated player in club history.
The club signed Saborio to a four-year deal.
No financial terms were reported but the deal likely makes Saborio the highest-paid player in team history, but with only the first $335,000 counting toward its salary budget.
Saborio, who was named MSL’s 2010 Newcomer of the Year, led Real Salt Lake in scoring in both league play (12 goals) and during its appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League (6 goals).
As a designated player, Saborio joins a list that includes Landon Donovan and David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez of the New York Red Bulls and Nery Castillo of the Chicago Fire.
