Source: Xherdan Shaqiri, Chicago Fire Agree to Mutual Termination
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — The Chicago Fire and Xherdan Shaqiri have agreed a mutual contract termination effective immediately, sources tell MIR97 Media. The agreement comes hours before tonight's trade deadline and will open up a senior roster slot.
Shaqiri's departure also frees up an international roster slot but not a Designated Player slot for this season. The Fire have roughly 12 hours to complete any further incoming moves before the MLS summer window shuts. Shaqiri will now have the freedom to sign with a new club overseas before most windows close at the end of the month.
Shaqiri, now 32, joined the Fire in February of 2022 to much fanfare and a roughly $8.1 million annual salary but failed to match the hype with performances on the field. He scored just six times from the run of play for the Fire in 69 MLS appearances, with one-third of those goals coming in a single match against Inter Miami, where he scored twice in front of a sold-out crowd. That statistic is perhaps best reflective of his tenure with the Fire: rare glimmers of quality here and there, but across the board, a huge disappointment considering the reputation he arrived in Chicago with.
Best known for his performances at major tournaments with the Swiss national team, Shaqiri just competed in what was likely his last international competition at the 2024 European Championships in Germany. The Nati star played merely 71 minutes as Switzerland reached the quarterfinals for the second straight edition, but he made the most of his limited runouts, scoring in a start against Scotland and providing an extra time spark against England. In that quarterfinal match against the Three Lions, Shaqiri nearly scored directly from a corner and buried his penalty in the ensuing shootout, but it wasn't enough, and the Swiss were dumped out 5-3.
Prior to the Euros, Shaqiri's 2024 has been nothing short of rough. Since being named team captain ahead of the Fire's season opener in February, he has scored only two goals, both from the penalty spot against FC Cincinnati and Houston Dynamo and has gone the full 90 minutes just twice. He was benched from the starting lineup on May 18th against the Columbus Crew in what would prove to be his final game with the club; Shaqiri left for the Euros early just before a match against D.C. United on May 25th following discussions between his club and national team.
When Shaqiri departed Chicago for Switzerland, the Fire were in the midst of a nine-match winless run. After he left, his teammates embarked on a four-game unbeaten streak and rediscovered their goal-scoring form as they switched to a 3-5-2 formation. Club-record signing Hugo Cuypers, who struggled to find the net in his first few months in Chicago due to a near-total lack of service, began scoring freely and has six goals in eight league games; Swiss compatriot Maren Haile-Selassie has also come into his own, scoring four goals and adding three assists in a four-game span culminating last month.
Shaqiri's permanent departure ensures that homegrown talent Brian Gutiérrez – who benched Shaqiri before his exit – will now be the go-to guy in his #10 natural position.
Read more:
https://meninred97.com/xherdan-shaqiri-not-with-fire-for-d-c-united-match/#google_vignette
https://meninred97.com/im-proud-of-switzerland-xherdan-shaqiri-reacts-to-nemos-eurovision-victory/
https://meninred97.com/xherdan-shaqiri-repays-fire-stuns-miami-before-record-crowd/
