Rising Star Gozo Attracts European Interest Amid Impressive Development

Sources indicate that 18-year-old winger Gozo is attracting significant interest from top European clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Monaco, and Villarreal, all of which currently feature American players. Additionally, Premier League contenders Aston Villa are also actively pursuing the talented young player.

Real Salt Lake is reportedly seeking a transfer fee in the vicinity of the club-record sale of Andres Gomez, who was signed by Stade Rennais in 2024 for an initial $11 million, potentially rising to $13 million with performance-based incentives.

Last fall, Gozo garnered attention from clubs such as Anderlecht, Copenhagen, and FC Midtjylland. However, Real Salt Lake values Gozo at a price point that exceeds what those clubs can realistically afford.

The Athletic was the first to highlight the interest from both Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa regarding Gozo.

Gozo made significant strides during the 2025 season with Real Salt Lake, having previously made brief appearances in the MLS in 2024 and 2023. In the most recent season, he participated in 25 matches, starting 21, scoring four goals, and providing three assists. Ultimately, Gozo ranked as the club’s third-leading goal contributor, trailing only Diego Luna (12) and Diogo Gonzalves (eight).

On the international stage, Gozo established himself as a starter for the U.S. U-20 team at the World Cup this past fall, featuring in four of the five matches, including the knockout round defeat to Morocco. He notably scored and assisted in the impressive 3-0 victory over France during the group stage and contributed an assist in the 9-1 rout of New Caledonia that kicked off the tournament.

An attack-minded winger, Gozo has demonstrated substantial growth at Real Salt Lake, developing strong defensive instincts under coach Pablo Mastroeni. The coach has consistently praised Gozo for his talent and work ethic throughout this breakthrough season.

“What stands out with Gozo is his eagerness to learn, even though he is far from being the finished product,” Mastroeni remarked last year. “Young players often feel they have already arrived, but Gozo’s character shines through as he remains committed to growth. I take great pleasure in working with players who are willing to absorb the insights from my experiences and apply them on the field. Even when things don’t go right, the motivation to learn from those moments remains. Gozo has been exceptional, and I cannot speak highly enough of his impact on games.”

At his core, Gozo remains an attacker. Previously compared to Thierry Henry by Real Monarchs coach Mark Lowry, he has built a reputation as one of MLS’s most promising one-on-one attackers while displaying enough goal-scoring ability to attract interest from elite clubs worldwide.

For the immediate future, Real Salt Lake anticipates Gozo playing a pivotal role as they commence the 2025 season on February 21 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.