Johnny Russell, a former captain and club legend of Sporting Kansas City, has officially joined Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer after becoming a free agent in November 2024.

During his time with Sporting Kansas City, Russell scored 67 goals and provided 39 assists in 232 appearances, making him the third all-time top scorer for the club.

His move is expected to be challenging for many Sporting Kansas City fans, given the intense rivalry between the two clubs, highlighted by their historic encounters, including the 2013 MLS Cup.

Prior to his MLS career, Russell was a standout player at Dundee United, contributing to the team's success in European competitions with 45 goals in 121 appearances.

Russell visited Salt Lake City to tour the facilities and finalize his deal with Real Salt Lake, marking a new chapter in his career.

Before joining MLS, he played for Derby County, scoring 34 goals in 203 appearances, and made the transition to the U.S. in January 2018.

Notably, he is also the all-time leading scorer in matches between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake, netting five goals in league play and seven in total against RSL.

Over seven seasons, Russell played more than 200 matches for Kansas City, solidifying his status as a fan favorite before his departure.

At 35 years old, Russell's move to Real Salt Lake comes after a significant career that began in the Dundee United academy, where he later became a key player.

Internationally, Russell has been capped 14 times by the Scottish national team, scoring once during his international career.

Currently, Real Salt Lake is positioned in 10th place in the MLS Western Conference after 10 matches this season.