This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As Real Salt Lake continues to revamp its roster during the offseason, its USL affiliate, Real Monarchs, is doing the same. On Monday, the Monarchs announced the signings of three new players to its upcoming 2017 roster, including former RSL midfielder Sebastian Velasquez.

The 25-year-old Colombian returns to the organization after being traded away in the 2014 offseason to New York City FC. Velasquez was initially drafted by RSL in the second round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Velasquez made 38 regular-season appearances with RSL in his three years with the club, 15 of which were starts. Velasquez had two goals and five assists during his first stint with the club.

"We saw bringing back Sebastian as a great opportunity to inject a known commodity with MLS experience who still has room to develop as a player and he fits a need in our midfield," said RSL general manager Craig Waibel in a team release.

Waibel initially unveiled the signing during a town hall with the RSL fan base on Dec. 20. Velasquez spent last season with Rayo OKC in the NASL after playing 2015 with NYCFC.

The Monarchs also signed former Portland Timbers midfielder/defender Nick Besler. Originally drafted fifth overall by the Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Besler spent the last two seasons on loan at Timbers 2 in the USL, where he made 50 appearances. Besler is the younger brother of Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler.

Lastly, RSL's affiliate penned 19-year-old Ghanaian forward Charles Boateng, who comes to the Monarchs on loan from the West African Football Academy. Boateng is expected to see time on the wing in the 4-3-3 formation.

"As we continue to build the Monarchs for the 2017 season, we see a lot of potential in the players we've added and these three players all add their own qualities to the style we are looking to play as an organization," Waibel said.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani