Defender Shawn Barry has signed with Real Salt Lake and will return to the United States after over seven years abroad.
Real Salt Lake announced the Florida native’s signing Wednesday. He will be added to the roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and is expected to arrive in Utah in time for training camp, which opens Jan. 22.
“He’s got some great professional experience and can play multiple positions along the back line,” general manager Craig Waibel said in a team release. “He’s a guy that can challenge guys on the roster on a weekly basis for playing time. He’s a strong, athletic guy who can pass well out of the back. His mid-range passing is phenomenal. He trends more to the way the staff wants to play.”
Barry has made stops in Austria, Germany and Poland since leaving the University of Virginia after two seasons. He first signed with LASK Linz in 2010, where he played for five seasons before transferring to 2. Bundesliga club FSV Frankfurt. He made 56 appearances and scored two goals in the second division German league. Barry has played for Polish club Korona Kielce since this summer.
Barry is the fourth new defender signed by RSL this winter, joining right backs Adam Henley and Aaron Herrera and former Real Monarchs center back Taylor Peay. RSL also re-signed left back Demar Phillips and exercised the contract option on center back David Horst in November.
Injuries, suspensions and international duty took their toll on the back line last season, but RSL heads into the 2018 season armed with a number of competitive options.
SHAWN BERRY <br>Position • Defender <br>Place of birth • Miramar, Fla. <br>College • University of Virginia <br>Former clubs • LASK Linz (Austria), 2010-15; FSV Frankfurt (Germany), 2015-17; Korona Kielce (Poland), 2017-18