Real Salt Lake: RSL trades Lovel Palmer to Chicago
One of Real Salt Lake's brightest locker room personalities is on his way to the Windy City.
Defender Lovel Palmer was traded to the Chicago Fire for allocation money in a trade announced the team and league Friday afternoon. Per league and club policy, the amount of allocation money exchanged between RSL and Chicago was not disclosed.
"I'd like to thank Lovel on behalf of the Real Salt Lake organization for his contributions to the team," RSL GM Garth Lagerwey said in a statement. "He was an important part of our on-field success and a very good presence in the locker room this year. We wish him all the best in Chicago."
The 29-year-old Jamaican international spent one season with RSL, making 21 appearances and 16 starts across all competitions, including appearing in three MLS Cup playoff matches for RSL this season. Palmer came on twice as an injury replacement for outside back Chris Wingert.
The 20th penalty-kick attempt in the MLS Cup final shootout was Palmer's and his shot ricocheted off the crossbar and back into the field of play, cementing the cup for Sporting Kansas City.
"Real Salt Lake will always have a special place in my heart," Palmer said in a statement. "I wouldn't trade this last season with RSL for anything. If someone said to me at the beginning of the year that we would do it all over again, that RSL and Sporting Kansas City would be in MLS Cup and Kansas City would win, I wouldn't trade teams. I wouldn't trade the Real Salt Lake experience for the MLS Cup. That's how much being with RSL, being in Salt Lake City and in Utah meant to me."
ckamrani@sltrib.com
Twitter: @chriskamrani Lovel Palmer file
Position: Defender
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 160 lbs.
Date of Birth: Aug. 20, 1984
Birthplace: Mandeville, Jamaica
Acquired: Selected in the first round of Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 14, 2012. Signed to a contract with RSL on Jan. 3, 2013.
Departed: Traded to the Chicago Fire in exchange for allocation money on Dec. 13, 2013.