Real Salt Lake sign DP forward Morgan Guilavogui

The 27-year-old Guinea international joins from French Ligue 1 side RC Lens

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:39am

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Real Salt Lake have acquired forward Morgan Guilavogui from French Ligue 1 side RC Lens, the club announced on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Guinea international is under contract through the 2028-29 season with an option for 2029-30 and will occupy Designated Player and international roster slots. Guilavogui arrives for a reported $5 million transfer fee.

Why it matters

The signing of Guilavogui represents a significant investment by Real Salt Lake as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2026 MLS season. The Guinean international brings experience playing at the highest levels in Europe, which the club hopes will translate to immediate production and help them compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The details

Guilavogui has 55 goals and 16 assists in 218 career club matches, having played in his native France for Lens, Paris FC and SC Toulon, as well as German Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli. He has also earned 21 caps for the Guinea national team, scoring twice and featuring in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

  • Real Salt Lake announced the signing of Guilavogui on February 3, 2026.
  • Guilavogui's contract with Real Salt Lake runs through the 2028-29 season, with an option for 2029-30.

The players

Morgan Guilavogui

A 27-year-old forward from Guinea who joins Real Salt Lake from French Ligue 1 side RC Lens.

Kurt Schmid

The chief soccer officer for Real Salt Lake, who expressed excitement about Guilavogui's addition to the club's attacking framework.

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What they’re saying

“We're delighted to welcome Morgan to Real Salt Lake and Major League Soccer. His versatility across multiple attacking positions, combined with his experience in top European leagues, makes him an ideal addition to our attacking framework.”

— Kurt Schmid, Chief Soccer Officer, Real Salt Lake (mlssoccer.com)

“I'm very excited to begin. Coming from Europe, the MLS product is spectacular, and I'm looking forward to participating in the show. To the fans, I'm excited to see you at America First Field and win a lot of games.”

— Morgan Guilavogui (mlssoccer.com)

What’s next

Real Salt Lake will look to integrate Guilavogui into their lineup ahead of the start of the 2026 MLS season, which begins on February 21 with a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The takeaway

The signing of Morgan Guilavogui represents a significant investment by Real Salt Lake as they aim to bolster their attacking options and compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Guilavogui's experience playing at the highest levels in Europe should provide an immediate boost to RSL's offense.