Chicago Fire have signed Rafael Czichos from Bundesliga side FC Köln on a three-year deal thru to the the 2024 season.
He changed into signed with Targeted Allocation Money and is ready to occupy an global roster slot on the Fire’s 2022 roster.
The 31 year antique is a left-sided defender and will possibly lead Chicago’s backline below Ezra Hendrickson’s reign.
“One of our key objectives for this offseason become to acquire a talented left-footed center back and we experience assured we've performed that with Rafael’s signing,” Chicago sporting director Georg Heitz said in a press launch.
“Working closely with Ezra and the team of workers, we diagnosed Rafael as a player who will healthy our fashion of play and produce extra excellent and management to our roster. We’re thrilled that he has agreed to sign up for the Fire and look forward to welcoming him to Chicago.”
Czichos departs FC Koln after a 13-12 months career exclusively spent in German football. He remodeled 320 appearances in German expert divisions, along with 111 for Die Geissböcke.
He additionally captained German aspect Holstein Kiel as they earned promotion to the two. Bundesliga for the primary time given that 1981.
"I determined collectively with my own family to satisfy a dream and circulate to the U.S. For the next three years," Czichos stated in his very own announcement.
"Leaving Köln isn't always clean for me after three and a 1/2 emotional and successful years. I'm very proud and grateful for this time. The promoting in 2019 changed into some thing very special to me."
The participant joins a back line in want of management, because it allowed fifty four desires at some stage in the 2021 season to finish inside the bottom 0.33 league-wide. Chicago Fire are again in action while the 2022 Major League Soccer season kicks off on February 26.
