Jamaican international Khari Stephenson will now represent Real Salt Lake FC in the US Major League Soccer (MLS) tournament after inking a three-year deal with the club recently.

Stephenson last played for the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS for three seasons and helped the club top the Western Conference at the end of the 2012 regular season with a record 66 points.

The 32-year-old played a total of 69 games for the Earthquakes, netting eight goals with eight assists. The 6’2″ midfielder, who kicks powerfully with both feet and is equally comfortable in an attacking or holding midfield role, was reported to be an instant hit when he joined Real Salt Lake at their training camp in Tucson, Arizona in late January.

The midfielder scored a game-winner in a pre-season match-up with New England last month in Tucson, Arizona.

“We were surprised we could get him,” RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said.

Stephenson earned a starting place at mid-field for Real Salt Lake in the final of their pre-season Desert Diamond Classic tournament with Seattle Sounders in Tucson last Saturday.

He joins fellow Reggae Boy Lovell Palmer at Real Salt Lake this season and is expected to create a formidable alliance with ace midfielder Beckerman and could see time on the field in today’s season opener away to San Jose.

STEPHENSON… kicks powerfully with both feet and is equally comfortable in an attacking or holding midfield role