Transfer Tracker

Report: Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata could soon move to Liga MX

Joao Plata - Real Salt Lake - Close up

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Report


Joao Plata could be on the move, according to several reports out of Central and South America.


The Real Salt Lake forward is heavily linked to Atletico San Luis, a club promoted to Liga MX for the 2019-20 season. That’s one report from Paulina Benvavente of Mexican sports news agency PressPort, while two other reports from Plata's native Ecuador say Plata could imminently head south of the border.

Plata, a 27-year-old Ecuadorian, first entered MLS in 2011 with Toronto FC, before moving to the Western Conference when RSL acquired him via trade in 2013. Across 199 regular-season games, the 5-foot-2 speedster has 48 goals and 48 assists.


However, Plata has fallen out of favor this season under head coach Mike Petke. 


The Ecuadorian international has only made five appearances and has failed to start in 2019. He’s appeared as a substitute in RSL’s last four games, including 22 minutes in a 3-2 win over rivals Colorado Rapids this past weekend. Plata hasn’t scored since an Aug. 25, 2018 match against Colorado.