Herriman • When DeAndre Yedlin isn’t on the pitch, he likes to tinker around with different hobbies.
He paints, builds and draws in his spare time. He just wrote a children’s book called “X Marks the Spot.” Another book is in the works.
“I’m a guy that loves projects,” said Yedlin, who played in two World Cups for the United States in 2014 and 2022. “Whatever it may be, any type of project, I love.”
Good thing, because the task in front of him might be his biggest project yet.
The veteran soccer star was just acquired by Real Salt Lake in a trade with FC Cincinnati. The journeyman is on the back end of his career after rising through the European soccer ranks. He played multiple years for Newcastle United in the Premier League and has 81 caps for the national team.
Those were teams ready to win.
Now, he’s joining one of the youngest rosters in MLS — a group just learning to win.
“This definitely feels like a project,” Yedlin said, laughing. “Hopefully I’m able to help these young guys here.”
Yedlin’s arrival is a welcome sight for multiple reasons in Salt Lake. On the field, he can stop RSL’s rotating door at right back and bring stability to the back line.
RSL tried Noel Caliskan at that spot recently, with some success, but he is a midfielder by trade.
“It has been a spot that we’ve had a few guys play this year,” RSL sporting director Kurt Schmid said. “Noel has been fantastic during this last run of games, but the way we play, the right back spot is a little bit different than some other teams. DeAndre is someone that we think can come in and do a few different jobs in a few different setups and systems. And again, Noel is someone that came to us as a central midfielder. This allows him to grow into that role as well.”
But institutionally, Yedlin’s arrival might signal something bigger.
When the team changed hands to the Miller family this year, there was a question about how much the investment would increase for the team.
This transfer window, RSL acquired several pieces. The club added 24-year-old striker Rwan Cruz from Brazil on an 18-month loan with an option to buy for $5 million. RSL acquired forward Victor Olatunji from Sparta Prague. It also signed 20-year-old U.S. Youth National Team forward Marcos Zambrano.
Then it wrapped up the transfer window with Yedlin’s arrival.
Is all of that indicative of an ownership group that is more willing to spend than in years past?
“Their support is massive,” Schmid said. “It’s still really early with them, and I’m excited to go into the winter window having more time spent under them and with their backing. But yeah, they’ve been very supportive with everything that we’ve done.”
Yedlin is the marquee piece of RSL’s recent transfer activity.
He’s hoping he puts the club over the edge to get into the playoffs this season. The team is playing better of late and is close to a playoff spot. The final stretch will begin on Saturday, with many of the new additions ready to play.
“In the MLS, you just have to get to the playoffs. It’s a whole different season in the playoffs,” Yedlin said.
Another project awaits.