Chicago Fire Roster Preview 2025: Midfielders
The next part of this year’s roster preview on MIR97 Media, which only comprises of six players, is the midfield.
Important players like Federico Navarro and Gastón Giménez are no longer with the team, so Berhalter is relying on some developmental talent to step up into key roles in this area of the field. New signing Rominigue Kouamé also arrived in this offseason and will be crucial in the middle of the park.
23. Kellyn Acosta
Height: 5’9 (175 cm) | DOB: July 24, 1995 (29)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 34 | Games started: 27 | Minutes: 2311
Besides Brady in goal, Acosta is arguably the most important player on this team. He was one of the alternate captains last year alongside Rafa Czichos and Gastón Giménez, both of whom are no longer with the team. Acosta appeared in almost every game all season and had extremely important goal contributions, such as the winner from the halfway line against CF Montréal.
Whether as a box-to-box or sitting deeper as a number six, Acosta’s experience under Berhalter will make him a key player. As the team’s captain, he will be pivotal to everything the Fire do this season.
6. Rominigue Kouamé
Height: 5’10 (177 cm) | DOB: December 17, 1996 (28)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
Throughout his last season and a half playing in Ligue 2, La Liga, and La Liga 2, Kouamé has played 1967 minutes across all competitions. He spent a few seasons at ESTAC Troyes, where he played over 65 matches in just two years and was impressive throughout.
Kouamé is a central midfielder who can play in a box-to-box or holding role, something that will be useful as Acosta’s partner in the center. With good experience in competitions like the Copa del Rey and the Coupe de France, Kouamé is a key addition to this team.
17. Brian Gutiérrez
Height: 5’11 (180 cm) | DOB: June 17, 2003 (21)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 32 | Games started: 26 | Minutes: 2376
The gem in this Chicago Fire attack and the third most productive player for the team last season (only behind Maren Haile-Selassie and Hugo Cuypers), Guti scored 6 goals and assisted 5. Having been called up recently and having starting multiple matches for the USMNT, his recent form, added to that of preseason, is possibly even better than last season.
At just 21 years of age, it feels like he has been around for ages. With new world-class additions like Jonathan Bamba and Phillip Zinckernagel up top, Guti should have a bit more freedom and space to work with in that attacking midfield position.
35. Sergio Oregel Jr.
Height: 5’9 (175 cm) | DOB: May 16, 2005 (19)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
Oregel debuted for the Fire back in 2022 at the age of 17 but has not played an MLS game for the first team since then. With the departure of Federico Navarro and Gastón Giménez, however, Berhalter has already been relying on him throughout preseason and it will not be surprising if he gets significant minutes, possibly as a starter, this year.
With 4,900 minutes across 69 games in MLS Next Pro and the U.S. Open Cup as a teenager, the jump to playing consistent minutes with the first team should not be too big of a leap for Oregel.
29. David Poreba
Height: 6’0 (182 cm) | DOB: December 1, 2002 (22)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
Poreba was one of the most important players for Fire II last season, scoring 18 goals and assisting 6 in the 28 games he played. He is also on the younger end, having just turned 22 a few months ago, and has yet to debut in Major League Soccer. His MLS Next Pro performances earned him both Golden Boot and MVP honors.
During training earlier this month at Coachella, Poreba suffered a knee injury, which has been confirmed as a torn ACL. He is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days but will miss, at the very least, 6-7 months of action.
27. Dylan Borso
Height: 5’11 (180 cm) | DOB: June 2, 2006 (18)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
Borso spent this past season at Wake Forest, playing D1 college soccer. He appeared 17 times for the Demon Deacons, making seven starts. The former Chicago Fire academy player scored three goals and recorded four assists during his brief career in Winston-Salem.
The 18-year-old can play in central midfield or on the wing. Though he’s out for the first few months of the season with a broken foot, Borso might be another player Berhalter will turn to at some point throughout the season.
The Verdict
Small but very talented, this midfield group has both experience and youth, two factors that are important for any team to have. With the number of key players who started most games last season that have left, like Gastón Giménez, it is up to players like Oregel and Kouamé to fill those holes.
Like last season, Acosta and Gutiérrez will almost certainly be preferred by Berhalter in the starting XI while the third midfield position will most likely be Kouamé throughout the season. Sergio Oregel and Mauricio Pineda represent other options for now, while the return of Dylan Borso this spring will also add further depth.
Read More:
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-roster-preview-2025-forwards/
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-roster-preview-2025-defenders/
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-roster-preview-2025-goalkeepers/
