Real Salt Lake signs five teenage Academy products to Homegrown Contracts
Real Salt Lake has announced the signing of five teenage Academy products to Homegrown Contracts: 15-year-old midfielder Jude Wellings, 16-year-old midfielder Julio Benitez, 16-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Beavers, 17-year-old defender Jaziel Orozco and 14-year-old forward Axel Kei.
Each of the Homegrown signings were announced over the course of this week. Follow the links below to view the full individual announcements on each player:
TRANSACTION 1: Real Salt Lake have signed midfielder Jude Wellings as a Homegrown Player on January 10, 2022.
Jude Wellings
Pronunciation: Jude Wellings
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: April 26, 2006
Age: 15
Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: RSL Academy
How Acquired: Signed on January 10, 2021
TRANSACTION 2: Real Salt Lake sign Julio Benitez as a Homegrown Player on January 11, 2022.
Julio Benitez
Pronunciation: BEEN-E-tez
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 139 pounds
Date of Birth: July 30, 2005
Age: 16
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: Real Monarchs
How Acquired: Signed on January 11, 2021
TRANSACTION 3: Real Salt Lake sign goalkeeper Gavin Beavers on January 12, 2022.
Gavin Beavers
Pronunciation: Gav-IN
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 183 pounds
Date of Birth: April 29, 2005
Age: 16
Hometown: Henderson, Nevada
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: Real Monarchs
How Acquired: Signed on January 12, 2021
TRANSACTION 4: Real Salt Lake have signed defender Jaziel Orozco as a Homegrown Player on January 13, 2022.
Jaziel Orozco
Pronunciation: HA-see-el OR-AHH-sco
Position: Defender
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 183 pounds
Date of Birth: June 2, 2004
Age: 17
Birthplace: Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Citizenship: United States and Mexico
Last Club: Real Monarchs
How Acquired: Signed on January 13, 2021
TRANSACTION 5: Real Salt Lake Axel Kei to a Homegrown Player contract.
Axel Kei
Pronunciation: Axle KAY
Position: Forward
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 183 pounds
Date of Birth: December 30, 2007
Age: 14
Birthplace: Ivory Coast
Hometown: San Diego, California
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: RSL Academy
How Acquired: Signed on January 14, 2021
Related News
D.C. United sign 19-year-old midfielder Ted Ku-DiPietro to Homegrown Contract
He is the 17th Homegrown Player in club history.
Portland Timbers signs 18-year-old Tega Ikoba as Homegrown Player
Ikoba played one season at North Carolina.
Seattle Sounders FC signs 16-year-old midfielder Obed Vargas
Vargas is the club's 18th Homegrown Player.
MLS NEXT Pro to feature 21 clubs in inaugural 2022 season
The league will complete the MLS player pathway.
U.S. U-15 Men’s Youth National Team kicks off 2022 with 36-player camp
The training camp is running from January 7-14.
Teenage USMNT prospect Ricardo Pepi transfers from FC Dallas to FC Augsburg
Ricardo Pepi is heading to the Bundesliga.
SOCCERWIRE MARKETPLACE
- Loudoun College Showcase 2025: Earlybird Registration is OPEN NOW
- GET SEEN AT OUR COLLEGE ID CAMP!
- Maryland United College Showcase Series 2025
- The St. James Winter Futsal Program
- Chelsea FC 3v3 Youth Winter Cup
- International Tryout in Spain
- ECNL Girls Goalkeepers Wanted!
- Adidas College Showcase 2024
- Apply today for the 2025 Jefferson Cup!
- International Soccer Tours & Tournaments
College Recruiting Commitment Tracker
Featured Players
COLLEGE RECRUITING STARTS HERE
Join the SoccerWire College Soccer Recruiting Search Engine and learn how to be seen OVER 1 MILLION TIMES PER YEAR.
- Basic $99 – for life
- Featured $299 – for life
- Featured PLUS $399 – for life