RSL Acquires Forster Ajago

WRITTEN DEC 16 2024

Real Salt Lake acquired Ghanaian Ex-Nashville SC striker Forster Ajago via the first stage of the 2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The striker's draft contract expired after last season indicating this player would require both a senior roster slot and an international slot in order to make Real Salt Lake's final 30 man roster. The contract is for one year with 2 option years following. The Ghanaian was drafted from Duke University and is 23 years old. Forster made 15 appearances with Nashville's first team last year tallying just under 600 minutes. He scored 2 goals in a Concacaf Champions Cup game against Moca FC. He also scored 7 goals along with 2 assists throughout 13 games in MLS Next Pro last season. 

Forster has a transfermarkt value of 150k. Real Salt Lake midfielder Noel Caliskan who is a year older than Ajago also has a transfermarkt value of 150k. Last year the Real Monarch's top scoring striker was Owen Anderson who scored 5 goals in 17 games. It seems like Forster will be a falling into place as a player that can really help the Monarchs but might struggle to get significant minutes with the first team. 

Roster Construction Notes: Players acquired in the first stage of the 2024 MLS Re-Entry Draft are required to be offered a contract worth either 10% or 10,000$ more than their expired contract. That is why the roster sheet shows his salary as 10% over the MLSPA salary data. Forster Ajago might also not occupy an international roster slot if he has some kind of permanent residence in the United States which is possible considering he went to Duke. To be safe I marked him as an international player.