Russell returns home to U.S., joins Real Salt Lake

The remaking of Real Salt Lake continued on Wednesday, as the club signed midfielder Robbie Russell. Rumors had flown for a few weeks now that RSL had a Europe-based player in their sights, and now they have him in their team.

"This is the guy we wanted," general manager Garth Lagerwey told the Salt Lake City Tribune.

The 29-year-old Russell, originally drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy, spent the past seven years in Scandinavia. He played with Norwegian teams Sogndal and Rosenborg, and was last with Danish club Viborg.

Fast and experienced, Russell gives coach Jason Kreis some reinforcements in the midfield. That position has recently been devastated by the loss of Carey Talley, in a trade with Chivas USA, and Matias Cordoba, who never worked out and returned home to Argentina.

"[He] immediately adds strength to our team core," Kreis said. "We couldn't be happier to finally have this deal done."

-- Goal.com