The Utah Royals have signed Mexico international Kiana Palacios from Liga MX Femenil side Club América for an $800,000 transfer fee, the NWSL team announced. The fee ranks as the second-highest outgoing transfer from Liga MX Femenil, behind only Lizbeth Ovalle's $1.5 million move to Orlando Pride last summer. A source told ESPN that Utah paid the substantial fee to acquire the 28-year-old forward.

Palacios brings impressive credentials to Salt Lake City. She's Club América's all-time leading scorer with 90 goals in 174 appearances and helped the team win the 2023 Clausura title. The California-born forward has been a regular fixture for Mexico's women's national team and previously played professionally in Spain with Real Sociedad, winning the 2019 Copa de la Reina. Her arrival addresses a critical need for Utah, which scored only 28 goals in 26 games last season.

The Royals open their NWSL season on March 14 against the Kansas City Current, the 2025 NWSL Shield winners. Palacios' signing represents a significant investment in attacking talent for Utah, which has struggled to find consistent goal-scoring. Her experience at both club and international levels, combined with her proven track record in Liga MX Femenil, should provide immediate impact for the Royals' offense.