Real Salt Lake announced the acquisition of veteran MLS attacker Saba Lobjanidze from Atlanta United FC on July 1, 2026. The deal brings the Georgian international to Herriman for the rest of the 2026 season and includes Atlanta's third-round selection in the 2028 MLS SuperDraft.
As part of the trade, Real Salt Lake will provide $625,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to Atlanta United. If Lobjanidze re-signs with the Claret-and-Cobalt, Atlanta would receive an additional $100,000 in 2027 GAM.
Kurt Schmid, Real Salt Lake’s Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, stated that the addition of Lobjanidze is intended to provide depth across multiple positions and increase competition during training. Schmid noted that the player arrives with a significantly reduced budget charge for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Schmid also expressed confidence that Lobjanidze will adjust quickly to the team's system, citing his experience playing nearly 100 MLS games over the last three years. The club expects the move to accentuate his attacking strengths as they prepare for upcoming matches, including a friendly against Burnley FC and tournament play in the Leagues Cup.
Lobjanidze, a 31-year-old U.S. green card holder, joins RSL following a tenure with Atlanta United that began in August 2023. During his time with Atlanta, he recorded 15 goals and 21 assists in 93 appearances. His 2024 campaign was particularly notable, featuring a career-high 17 goal contributions in the league.
Prior to his arrival in North America, Lobjanidze played for Hatayspor in the Turkish SüperLig. His professional career also includes stints with Randers FC in Denmark and Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia, where he won both the Georgian Cup and SuperCup.
On the international stage, Lobjaniente has earned 43 caps for Georgia, including an appearance in the group stage of Euro 2024.
Real Salt Lake currently holds third place in the MLS Western Conference with an 8-4-2 record through 14 games of the 2026 season. The club is preparing for a busy summer schedule at America First Field, including Leagues Cup matches against Tigres UANL, Atlante CF, and FC Juarez.
