Trip Fleming earns maiden Fire first team call-up
Trip Fleming shocked many when he left the University of Wisconsin early to sign an MLS Next Pro contract with Chicago Fire II. Now, he is set for his first-ever first team call-up, and could be poised for an MLS debut against Son Heung-min and LAFC.
Fleming, who has consistently been among the top players for Fire II this season, has sporadically trained with the first team in 2025 but has been a fixture for the second team. The 21-year-old midfielder, who can also deputize as a fullback, has recorded seven goals and two assists in 17 matches so far.
“I’m still excited about my decision,” Fleming said last week following a two-goal performance against Columbus Crew 2. “Wisconsin was great, and it helped me out big time to be there. But to score seven goals in my first season back, I’m excited to see what the future holds at this club for me.”
Fire II Rolling
While Fleming is the player specifically being rewarded this week for his performances, the second team as a whole has been lights out in recent weeks, especially offensively. Including their 3-3 shootout win over NYCFC II last night, Fire II now have an astonishing 24 goals in 5 games. That tally includes a 9-2 win over New York Red Bulls II and a 6-1 victory over Columbus Crew 2.
“We’re scoring, we’re looking to play high,” Fleming said. “We’re looking to get in the box and to be aggressive. We have the quality, and we knew it at the beginning of the season, but now you’re seeing what we’re really about and how many goals we can produce.”
In addition to Fleming, attackers Jason Shokalook and Claudio Cassano have padded their attacking outputs. Cassano is ineligible for a first team call-up due to his high salary, but has lodged five goals and five assists in the last four matches. Shokalook, who recorded an MLS debut assist in his lone first team call, has seven goals and two assists in his last two appearances.
“It's been great,” Fire Head Coach and Director of Football Gregg Berhalter said on Thursday. “It's been great to watch a lot of goals, wins, and climbing the table. I think most importantly for the players to understand is there is an opportunity for them. Justin Reynolds trained with us this week. Claudio Cassano trained with us again this week. For them to perform really well, they'll get rewarded with opportunities in the first team.”
MLS Next Pro Homecoming Pathway
In a unique piece of history, Fleming is the first former academy player ever to leave college early to sign a second-team contract with Fire II. It came out of nowhere as while he was very good in his sophomore season at Wisconsin last fall, he didn’t quite seem ready for a jump into pro soccer just yet.
Nonetheless, Fleming’s five-goal, three-assist college season was enough to warrant a homecoming, and it’s paid off so far as he’s only gotten better as the season goes on. The risky decision seems to be paying off, as returning to a high, faster level of play in MLS Next Pro seems to have proven the correct move to further his development.
Now, with Rominigue Kouamé ruled out for tonight’s MLS match against LAFC, Fleming has an albeit slim chance of making his full first team debut at Bridgeview, which would further justify his choice to come home.
“Of course, you look for opportunities like that,” Fleming said earlier about breaking into the first team. “Being able to play a couple of different positions and midfield being one of them, that’s where I hope to play and maybe get an opportunity. That’s not up to me, but I’ll take every opportunity that I get and hope to see where I can go from there.”
If Fleming’s return to Chicago can pay off, it might provide a model for other players who might quickly master the fairly low NCAA level after leaving the academy. Fleming’s peer Dylan Borso left Wake Forest after one semester when a full homegrown contract was earned, while others like Vitaliy Hlyut and Darris Hyte are foregoing college altogether to sign with Fire II. Players like DePaul’s Noeh Hernández – who looks far too good and talented to be playing for a team of that caliber – might take note in the near future if the opportunity arises.
But for Fleming, the opportunity to be with the first team this week is one he won’t want to miss. A full first team call-up seemed far away just a few months ago, but now serves as a statement that performances for the second team can indeed translate to first team opportunities.
