BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Gretna | Gretna's Deuchar signs MLS deal

Deuchar scored twice in Gretna's 4-2 defeat to Rangers on Sunday

Gretna striker Kenny Deuchar has signed a deal with Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake.

Deuchar, 27, will fly to the USA on Thursday before travelling to Argentina for a series of exhibition matches.

Real's general manager Garth Lagerway watched Deuchar score twice in Sunday's 4-2 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox.

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis said: "We saw some video and liked what we saw enough that Garth wanted to go over there and see him play."

Deuchar joined Gretna from East Fife in 2004 and recently spent time on loan with St Johnstone and Northampton Town.

He scored 72 goals in 95 starts for the Borders club, setting a series of records along the way, including the highest number of goals scored in a Second Division season with 41 netted in 24 appearances.

Deuchar has scored six goals for Gretna this season and eight on loan at McDiarmid Park, but the SPL club have struggled at the bottom of the table and encountered financial problems.

"He was a player we talked to a few weeks ago and knew there was a possibility of something," said Kreis.

When you go to see a player play against Rangers and he scores twice, it tends to be a bit of an element.

Jason Kreis, Real Salt Lake coach

"When you go to see a player play against Rangers and he scores twice, it tends to be a bit of an element.

"I think we are very fortunate to have Kenny Deuchar."

Real Salt Lake were founded in 2004 and play in the MLS Western Conference.

The club are currently in pre-season training and will head to Rosario in Argentina on Friday for a series of exhibition matches.

The Utah-based club have a 10-year co-operative agreement with Real Madrid, which includes a friendly match every two years in Salt Lake City and the development of a $25m youth academy partly funded by the Spanish giants.

Deuchar is also a practising medical doctor and his move will be enhanced by the prospect of work in a local medical centre.

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