Sources: Fire Signing TSC's Viktor Radojević
The Chicago Fire are closing in on the signing of TSC Bačka Topola left back Viktor Radojević, sources confirmed to MIR97 Media. Radojević is signing an Under-22 Initiative contract with the Fire and is not a done deal but should be completed before tomorrow's deadline. GiveMeSport reported the move this afternoon.
Radojević, who just turned 21 this July, developed in the Crvena Zvezda academy before moving on to FK TSC for first team minutes last season. The defender played over 1,500 minutes last year as a left back for TSC, who finished in 7th place in the Serbian SuperLiga. He is a Serbian U-21 international and has featured for the national team at various youth levels over the last few years.
Radojević joins the Fire in the closing hours of the MLS summer transfer window, which shuts Thursday night at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. There is still time for business, but it would now require a player leaving as Radojević is filling the final slot on the Fire's senior roster. He will also need an international slot, which can be acquired from another team within MLS via a trade similarly to how they purchased one from St. Louis to sign Joel Waterman yesterday.
Though he joins the team in the Fire's fourth and final U-22 Initiative slot, Radojević is not expected to be a starter for now. Andrew Gutman has been one of the team's best players this season and has played 90 minutes nearly every game, starting 26 of 26 in MLS play and all three of the Fire's Open Cup matches. Radojević is certainly one for the future and represents depth right now in a position that currently has very little.
On the field, Radojević can be described as an intense competitor with a strong mentality. While a well-rounded defender with tremendous upside, he does have a lack of physicality that could make his adjustment to MLS take some time. Radojević played every minute in the first four matches of TSC's season but was left out of the squad for their last match against OFK Beograd.
Radojević will be the 18th new signing this season under Gregg Berhalter, meaning over half of the first team squad will have been brought in by the new Head Coach and Director of Football since he took over in October. He is also the third new signing of the summer window, following the loan for FC Porto's André Franco and trade for CF Montréal's Joel Waterman.
