Herriman • Real Salt Lake became a bit more whole Thursday, as one its offseason acquisitions joined the team for the first time.

Midfielder Everton Luiz, who signed with RSL on loan from Italian Serie A team Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor, arrived in Utah a couple of days ago and started training with his new teammates. Though a translator, he said he wants to make sure the team puts in “a great effort” and “they get far in the playoffs.”

RSL’s scouts reached out to him while he was with SPAL, Luiz said, adding that he was having “a bit of a tough time” on that team. He said he felt excited when the scouts contacted him, and all he was shown was “a seller” for him to sign with RSL.

Luiz, 30, looks to bolster the midfield area for RSL that includes Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland, Albert Ruznák and Damir Kreilach. His addition, along with Mulholland’s re-signing and recovery from a back injury, should bring depth there with Ruznák and Kreilach operating more as attackers.

Luiz said joining the MLS at this point in his career was a good decision because he saw many talented players making the jump to the league.

“The Italian tournament is great, it’s a great league, it’s a great place to play in as well,” Luiz said through his translator. “But the way it was growing here, [I] just thought it was a good fit more [me] to come out and try out.”

Prior to his stint with SPAL, Luiz spent time all over the world for teams such as Ponte Preta, Palmeiras and CRB in Brazil; San Luis in Mexico; and FC Lugano in Switzerland. Throughout his career, Luiz has played 155 league matches and 246 total, scoring 10 goals in the process.

Former RSL Academy player signs with FC Bayern Munich

Taylor Booth, an Eden, Utah native and former player with the RSL Academy, signed with FC Bayern Munich Under-19 team, the club announced Thursday.

“It’s a dream come true to be playing for a such a successful club,” Booth said in a video on social media. “I’ve grown up watching this club since I was a young boy, so to finally be there is an unbelievable feeling."

Booth, 17, signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Bayern, per a club release. Steven Goff of the Washington Post tweeted in December 2017 that RSL wanted to sign Booth, but Bayern was the frontrunner.

"We see a lot of potential in Taylor,” said FC Bayern Campus Manager Jochen Sauer said in the release. “He is a talented young player, and we look forward to working with him to develop his talent further.”