Chris Peretti Joins Real Salt Lake Youth Academy

Monday, October 26, 2020

The Spokane Sounders are excited to announce that B2003 player Chris Peretti has advanced to become a member of Real Salt Lake Youth Development Academy, one of the leading academies in Major League Soccer.

“From the moment this move became a possibility, I was stoked at the idea. Self improvement has always been something I have pushed for on and off the pitch and I saw this as a fantastic opportunity to do so. I’m looking forward to developing both as a character and as a footballer,” said Peretti, who moved to Utah in September. “I developed a definite attention to detail during my time with Spokane Sounders as well as an appreciation for quality football and a tight knit community. I will definitely miss my friends but I am so excited to push myself in this new environment.”

Peretti landed in Utah following his selection to the US Youth Soccer Interregionals a year ago. A player on the Western Regional Team last December, his performance stood out at the event and Peretti was recognized as a Top 22 player. He was subsequently invited to a USYS ODP National Training Camp in Florida in January, where he was scouted by the RSL staff.

“We are extremely proud of Chris and his accomplishments,” said Spokane Sounders Technical Director Abbas Faridnia. “He is a very talented player that has worked hard to earn this opportunity with an outstanding MLS academy.

“This is the great thing about being affiliated with the Sounders and playing in ECNL Boys. The development and scouting of our players via Sounders’ coaching and education resources combined with playing in one the nation’s elite leagues provides a multitude of top-notch opportunities and avenues of advancement for our top prospects with hard work and dedication.”

In the era of COVID, the move was atypical, but Peretti has settled in with the RSL Academy and is looking forward to getting on the pitch competitively.

“About three weeks ago when I got here, I was tested for COVID and once I got a negative result back a few days later I was able to begin training. The environment here is extremely professional. From the facilities, to the coaches and trainers, to the gear, everything here is top notch.

“Hopefully we will be able to travel soon because I think that will be cool as well. We are hoping to begin some friendly matches within the next month through MLS Next.”

Peretti trains at Zions Bank Training Center. It is the training home for the MLS side and features the home stadium of the club’s USL League Two side Real Monarchs as well as the nation’s largest pre-engineered and free-standing steel structure, allowing them to train indoors. ZBTC is in Herriman, which is located in the southwest portion of the greater-Salt Lake community approximately halfway between SLC and Provo.

“The entire Salt Lake area is massive and there is plenty to do,” said Peretti about life outside of soccer. “Obviously the first team stadium is right in town so we are able to go and watch those games quite often. The city has a completely different vibe than Washington, and while I have been here multiple times for tournaments, I’m looking forward to learning more about the culture here.”

With a structure similar to the Sounders that features an integrated youth and professional system, Peretti will have the opportunity to follow a path parallel to fellow club alum Ray Serrano, who signed a professional contract with the Sounders’ USL team Tacoma Defiance after playing with the team as an academy player. Earlier this summer the Monarchs signed 18-year-old RSL Academy standout Bode Davis professionally.

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