Chicago Fire FC announces roster decisions ahead of 2022 season
Chicago Fire FC have announced their roster decisions ahead of the 2022 Major League Soccer season, which is set to kick off on February 26.
2021 was yet another disappointing campaign for the club, which finished 22nd in overall Major League Soccer standings and 12th in the Eastern Conference with 34 points. The team failed to qualify for the postseason four a fourth consecutive year.
Turmoil ensued for the club after head coach Raphael Wicky was relieved of his duties in September.
“On behalf of the Club, I’d like to thank each of these players for their contributions to the Fire,” Sporting Director Georg Heitz said in a statement.
“As we enter a very important offseason, we felt that these decisions were necessary as we begin to upgrade the roster. We wish the players who are departing all the best and look forward to providing additional roster updates in the coming weeks.”
The team announced the decisions for nine players, seven declined contract options and two players out of contract and eligible for free agency.
Contract options declined (Nov. 8, 2021):
- Robert Berić (FWD)
- Francisco Calvo (DEF)
- Elliot Collier (MID)
- Kenneth Kronholm (GK)
- Álvaro Medrán (MID)
- Nick Slonina (DEF)
- Luka Stojanović (MID)
Out of contract (Nov. 8, 2021):
- Johan Kappelhof (DEF) - eligible for free agency
- Bobby Shuttleworth (GK) - eligible for free agency