The 19-year-old has agreed a five-year contract at Selhurst Park, subject to international clearance, and becomes an academy graduate turned MLS breakout star to move directly into the Premier League.
Real Salt Lake will retain a significant sell-on percentage of any future transfer, the club confirmed.
Gozo joined Real Salt Lake's academy in 2021 and made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old in October 2023, going on to make 50 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and adding eight assists.
This season alone he has contributed six goals and five assists in Real Salt Lake's opening 16 league matches, form that earned him selection for the MLS All-Star Game.
Born and raised in Utah, Gozo has represented the United States at every youth level through to Under-23, and was part of the side that reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He arrives at Palace alongside compatriot Chris Richards, the USMNT centre-back who started at this summer's home World Cup for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
He becomes Crystal Palace's sixth summer signing, following the arrivals of Oscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil, Evann Guessand and Anan Khalaili, as the south London club builds a squad capable of competing in the Europa League this season having won the Conference League last term.
The deal breaks the previous MLS academy sale record set by Andres Gomez's move to Stade Rennais in 2024, reported at $11million with the potential to rise to around $13million through add-ons.
Gozo's rise accelerated through 2025, when he became a regular for Real Salt Lake having made only sporadic first-team appearances in his first two seasons. His performances this year drew interest from several major European clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Monaco and Villarreal, all of whom already field American players, along with Premier League opposition. Real Salt Lake had previously indicated they would only sell for a fee in line with the league's academy sale record.
"As a homegrown kid from Utah, Real Salt Lake has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. This is home," Gozo said. "This is where I learned what it means to work, to sacrifice, to believe and to wear this crest with pride."
Real Salt Lake sporting director Kurt Schmid said watching Gozo progress "from our Academy into the player he is today has been a privilege for everyone at Real Salt Lake."