Chicho Arango: RSL's Record Signing's Unexpected Transfer

Flashback to late summer 2022. Real Salt Lake had just signed Danny Musovski from LAFC. RSL had struggled to find that player to put in goals consistently. Fans and press alike were bummed to see that not only was Musovski, not the striker they were hoping for, but he was also coming in injured. In a press conference the following week, head coach Pablo Mastroeni was asked if LAFC striker Chicho Arango had been a target. Pablo’s brief response was affirmative: Chicho was “definitely someone we spoke about.”

Now that the club had their eye on Chicho Arango (21G/4A in all comps for LAFC in 2022) imagine Real Salt Lake fans’ disappointment in seeing C.F. Pachuca swoop in and sign the star striker that winter. 

RSL would make a club record signing in early January 2023 in the $3 million purchase of Colombian Andres Gomez. The young winger, though exciting, still didn’t answer that growing need in the striker position up top. Would RSL sign a top-level no. 9? The new ownership of David Blitzer and Ryan Smith had shown they were willing to open their pocketbooks with the Andres Gomez purchase. And while other positions on the roster would see signings before the start of the 2023 season, fans were still dreaming of “what could have been” had the club been able to sign LAFC’s exiting striker Arango, knowing how well he performed within MLS consistently for two seasons in the city of angels.

RSL’s season got off to a decent start in 2023, though no consistent striker answer had been found for Pablo Mastroeni’s gritty crew until June 10th, 2023. Out of nowhere, in a new club record signing of $6 million, Real Salt Lake announced the addition of Chicho Arango via permanent transfer from Liga MX side C.F. Pachuca. In the previous fall, fan dreams of the team signing the proven striker had somehow become a reality. Then GM Elliot Fall explained that inter-league trade policies made it difficult for RSL to sign Chicho in late 2022. But after a short stint in Mexico, those restrictions no longer prevented RSL from shooting their shot. And boy, did it pay off.

Chicho Arango Arrives in Sandy, Utah

Chicho was able to join the group early during the 2023 summer window. Having time to gel with his teammates before getting his first minutes. The time that must have benefitted the whole squad and Arango’s adjustment, as his first game in Sandy, Utah, less than a month after his signing, produced his first goal for the Claret and Cobalt. Only five RSL players had scored on their debut. Chicho became the 6th, and it only took him 23 minutes. On a free kick by Pablo Ruiz, Chicho broke free from his mark in the box near the 6th-yard box and put a header into the right-side net, catching Orlando City’s goalkeeper Gallese flat-footed. RSL would go on to win 4-0. A dream start for RSL’s record-signing striker. Chicho would end the 2023 season in Salt Lake with eight goals and one assist. Things were looking bright for a fantastic 2024 season in Utah.

A Stellar Start to 2024

While Chicho started hot with RSL in 2023, he only seemed to be catching his stride in 2024. Chicho wasn't the only RSL player picking up steam. Their previous record signing, Andres Gomez, had two goals and seven assists in 2023 but seemed to be catching fire as the snow fell in a wintry matchup against LAFC in March. Gomez put up a brace of goals and an assist, while Arango got himself a goal and assisted on one of Gomez's against his former club. The team was hitting its stride, and their record-signing captain, Chicho Arango, led the charge. 

Through July 6th, Chicho was the league Golden Boot and MVP leader with 17 goals, two separate hat-tricks (vs. St. Louis on 03/30 and vs. Austin on 06/01), and would be representing Salt Lake City in the All-Star match later that month. Things were looking great for RSL and Captain Chicho. Even Andres Gomez had 13 goals and nine assists so far in 2024, right on Arango's heels. On July 15th, Major League Soccer announced a four-game suspension for Arango and dropped him from the MLS All-Star match. Couple the suspension with Real Salt Lake's sale of Andres Gomez in August for $13 million to French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais, and the RSL striker and league MVP leader would never be the same.

Chicho would end the 2024 season as Real Salt Lake's Golden Boot winner with 17 goals and six assists. Yes, you read that correctly: Chicho didn't score a single goal for Real Salt Lake after his suspension in July. Something was off for the striker. By the end of the season, fan sentiment on Arango had cooled a bit. Understandably. 

Unexpected Departure to San Jose Earthquakes

Some fans, including myself, remained optimistic that a break from the stress of the game and a proper offseason would allow the star forward to regroup, refresh, and come back re-committed to the club. We were looking forward to 2025 with Chicho leading the charge as he did for the past year and a half. Rumors had been circling that the Columbian striker might move back to his homeland to continue playing there, but we all knew the clubs there couldn't afford to pay him his salary. And then, just as abruptly as he was signed in 2023, he was sold to the San Jose Earthquakes for a quarter of what RSL had paid for him. On January 11th, 2025, the news broke that Real Salt Lake's record signing of $6 million was sold for $1.4 million GAM.

Fans were devastated. And rightly so. This was a terrible business for RSL. Why would they sell Chicho for so little? Something was up with him. Had his value dropped so drastically after his half-season goal drought? Why would the team break with a player on the verge of breaking the all-time club record of goals last season? When asked about the Chicho sale in pre-season pressers, RSL Sporting Director Kurt Schmid revealed that Chicho had approached the team to help him find a "fresh start" for him and his family. 

Speculation around the suspension and what has been wrong in Chicho's personal life is ongoing, and both the club and player have been tight-lipped about it. While we may never know what was going on behind the scenes, it was clear something was off for the RSL forward and affected his gameplay in the second half of the season and current market value – compare Chicho's sale to San Jose for $1.4 to recent inter-league trade of Dejan Joveljić (21G/6A in 2024) to Sporting Kansas City for $4 million from the LA Galaxy.

As fans, we can only hope Chicho can find the fresh start he's searching for himself and his family in San Jose. Let's hope his form can return, as he's at his most fun to watch and root for when scoring fantastic goals like this.