Real Salt Lake has signed Monarchs captain Nick Besler, the team announced Thursday.

“I’m very excited,” Besler said in a team release. “It was a goal when I signed with the Monarchs to make it to the first team. I knew I had to consistently perform with that goal in mind of making it to the first team. It provided me extra motivation to keep improving.”

The 23-year-old midfielder has scored three goals and made an assist in 22 matches for the first-place Monarchs (16-3-4). Real Salt Lake’s USL affiliate set a league record with its nine-match winning streak April 22 to June 19.

“We’re really proud as an organization when we have players that deserve the opportunities,” RSL general manager Craig Waibel said in a release. “Being the captain and how he has performed consistently throughout the season, it makes a lot of sense. It was the right time to reward him, and from an organizational standpoint, it’s a continuation of what we set out to do, which was to bring guys into the first team when they are ready. There are certainly more players that deserve a look.”

With Besler’s addition, RSL has one roster spot open after its trade with Vancouver that sent Aaron Maund to the Whitecaps for a third-round draft pick.

After being drafted fifth overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Besler spent two seasons with the club but did not make a first-team appearance. He made 40 starts with Portland Timbers 2 and scored a goal during that time.

Besler is the fourth Monarchs player to sign with RSL.

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen chatted with students prior to addressing the students in the new Academy's opening week., Thursday, August 23, 2017.

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Grant Stock, the High School principal at the RSL Academy Charter School addresses the students in the new Academy's opening week., Thursday, August 23, 2017.

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen addresses the students in the new Academy's opening week., Thursday, August 23, 2017.

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen greeted students at the end of the assembly where he addressed the students in the new Academy's opening week., Thursday, August 23, 2017.

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students at RSL Academy listen as RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen addresses them on the new Academy's opening week., Thursday, August 23, 2017.

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen got the enthusiasm rolling as he addresses the students in the new Academy's opening week., Thursday, August 23, 2017.

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