Chivas is finalizing a deal to sign Mexican youth international winger Fidel Barajas from Real Salt Lake, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
The deal is worth north of $4 million, a new club-record sale for RSL, sources add. RSL, currently tied for first place in the Western Conference, is intending to reinvest the funds into the first team as they look to push for trophies this season. They will also retain a sell-on percentage.
Barajas, 18, is a highly-rated talent. He joined RSL this winter after being named USL Championship Young Player of the Year and All-League Second Team in 2023 following a breakout season with the Charleston Battery. He had five goals and 11 assists in 32 appearances that year.
The deal to send Barajas to Real Salt Lake was for a fee in the region of $250,000, sources told The Athletic at the time of the transfer. Charleston will get a cut of the Chivas deal owing to a sell-on clause they had.
Barajas has taken to MLS quickly, with two assists in his first 556 minutes, making 17 appearances in total.
Eligible for both the United States and Mexico, Barajas represented Mexico at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup. He spent time with the United States youth national team the year prior. Before joining Charleston in 2022, Barajas spent time in the academies of Sacramento Republic and the San Jose Earthquakes
Chivas has looked at MLS for additions more in recent years. The club signed U.S. international winger Cade Cowell from the San Jose Earthquakes this winter and midfielder Daniel Aguirre from the LA Galaxy this summer.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
