Analysis

Coming and Going: Fire roster, depth chart updates

Alex Calabrese

28 Jan 2025 — 4 min read

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With less than four weeks to go before Gregg Berhalter’s first competitive match at the helm of the Chicago Fire, the team has continued to make moves to rework a roster that finished dead last in the MLS Eastern Conference last season.

The most recent move was a somewhat surprising departure, as the team announced Federico Navarro’s return to his native Argentina, clearing a U22 slot on the team’s roster.

The move was paired with the arrival of Rominigue Koumané from Cádiz in Spain’s second division, who plays in a similar midfield role.

In addition, Berhalter has stated that Arnaud Souquet, who came to Chicago on a significant salary that he has struggled to live up to, does not fit into the team’s plans going forward; his jersey number has also been given to new arrival Leonardo Barroso.

Though more moves before the Fire take to the pitch against Columbus on February 22nd are likely, the team’s roster is looking increasingly set.

Current Fire roster: Turdean an off-roster player

Altogether, the front office has made 11 signings to the first team since December, including that of 15-year-old Robert Turdean, the team’s youngest-ever outfield homegrown to get a first-team deal.

That total is the most the team has made since the 2022 offseason, when they also made 11 signings, and represents a significant reworking of the team’s squad.

Despite the number of incoming moves, the team retains flexibility to add pieces – there are three senior roster spots available, a number that will increase to four if Souquet’s departure is finalized, and the team can add a U22 initiative player and either an additional Designated Player (DP) or a second U22.

Souquet is clearly on the way out. (Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports)

Even if the team eventually needs to use a buyout to part ways with Souquet, who remains on the team’s roster even if he isn’t part of their future plans, recently announced rule changes mean that the team would still retain a buyout for another unilateral departure.

Unlike last season, where the Fire eventually sent five players out on loan over the course of the season, it seems unlikely the Fire will make any such moves right now. Even if the likes of David Poreba, Dean Boltz, and Bryan Dowd are unlikely to get a sniff of first team minutes, it is much more likely they will continue to develop with Fire II.

Robert Turdean is the second youngest signing in club history. (via Chicago Fire FC)

Turdean's signing may seem premature to some as he is still a long way away from being ready for MLS action, however, with major European interest in the background, it seemed to make a lot more sense. His designation as an off-roster homegrown means he's a part of the MLS roster officially, but is technically "loaned" to the second team and is treated as a second team player for all-intensive purposes. For instance, he could theoretically be called up to the first team for just six MLS matches, like any other Fire II player (see Omari Glasgow in 2024).

The off-roster homegrown mechanism has been used around the league in recent seasons, most notably with New York City FC top prospect Máximo Carrizo. The talented attacking midfielder was called up to NYC's first team three times for MLS play, though he did not debut. There are no restrictions on off-roster homegrowns' availability for non-league matches, including the U.S. Open Cup.

Where does the Fire’s depth chart stand?

The Fire's depth chart looks considerably different to how it did even just a few weeks ago, and the arrivals of new signings from overseas further strengthen it. With the exception of central midfield, where one to two more signings are likely needed, every position is pretty close to full strength.

Turdean is excluded from this depth chart as he has never trained with the first team yet and almost certainly won't appear in any MLS action in 2025. Souquet is also excluded given that he is not in the teams plans and not a part of preseason. Non-first team players – like Chris Cupps, Vitaliy Hlyut, and Sam Williams – who are with the team in preseason were also left off of this chart, even if they will continue to appear in friendlies in the coming weeks. Finally, injured players who may not appear in preseason were included – among them are Dylan Borso (out 4-5 months with a broken foot) and Chase Gasper (out indefinitely with a leg injury).