What does Kei Kamara's signing mean for the Fire?
No player in MLS has had quite the journeyman career that Kei Kamara has. The 38-year-old center forward has previously played for nine different MLS teams, and now it is the Fire’s turn to have the Sierra Leonean. Kamara was traded from Montréal to Chicago in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money on Friday, and with opening day a week away, he will provide an alternative to Kacper Przybyłko at the forward position.
How will he fit? Will the move work out? What should our expectations be? We’ll try to answer those questions here.
Since Jhon Durán’s multi-million dollar transfer in mid-January, the Fire have been scrambling to find a #9 in time for the start of the season. Established Israeli international Eran Zaravi was looked at, but he reportedly was not interested in leaving his homeland at 35, and the pursuit appears to have concluded. There were also advanced talks for a young Brazilian striker by the name of John Kennedy, but that too fell apart for what can only be described as “non-sporting” reasons. As opening day approaches, the Fire made a late move for the legendary #9 in Montréal, prepared to part ways with a quarter of a million dollars in GAM (plus up to $150,000 GAM in potential bonuses) to make it happen.
In MLS circles, Kei Kamara is a man who requires little introduction. He is the third-highest scorer in league history, racking up 139 goals and 54 assists in 407 appearances. Even at 38, he was excellent with l’Impact last season, scoring 9 goals and adding 7 assists. That tally included a brace against the Fire in the fall, which helped make him the all-time leading goalscorer against the Chicago Fire, with 13.
From a sporting perspective, this move makes a ton of sense. After Kacper Przybyłko’s disappointing first season in 2022, it was clear that the Fire needed another option at the 9. Kamara brings a wealth of MLS experience, and he’s succeeded with a number of clubs across the league. Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, it doesn’t hurt to have such an established MLS goalscorer as a part of the roster, especially given the desperation at his position going into the season. His style is also a good fit with the Fire boasting creative attacking options such as Xherdan Shaqiri and Chris Mueller.
There’s another side to that coin, though. There’s a reason he’s played for 10 MLS teams. Kamara has never lasted more than two years with a team, which is why he’s become the first man in league history to play for a double-digit number of teams. He reportedly asked for a trade away from Québec ahead of this offseason after his option was exercised against his wishes, and with the striker market looking thin, Georg Heitz took that offer. With no 2024 option in Kamara’s Fire contract, this will likely be a one-year arrangement.
Weighing the pros and cons against one another, is this a good trade for the Fire? It’s not difficult to argue that it is. Kamara provides a short-term partial band-aid for the striker position, and at the Senior Minimum Salary of $85,444 per year, he hardly makes a dent in the salary cap. With the knowledge that the Fire are still looking for high-quality DP and U22 attackers, it's clear that Kamara isn’t seen as anything more than depth, and given the price, its not a terrible idea. If Kamara can provide 5-7 goals and a few assists, his stint will be viewed as a success.
One more thing we should mention. Some Fire fans may be disappointed that the “wrong Kamara” arrived; Ola Kamara is currently a free agent, having left DC United at the end of last season, and he was a popular suggestion for a cheap striker from within the league. However, based on what we know, it seems that the technical staff has a bigger vision for the #9, perhaps both a DP and a young U22 striker. While they may not be ready on day one, the plan is definitely not for Kamara to be the starter, and if Ola were brought in, he would want to be the #1, which could not be promised. Even if the upcoming signings won’t necessarily be there right away, it's better to be smart with those off-budget spots than just sign someone just to fill them, and the staff seems to be playing patiently to find the right fit.
So what do you think? Will Kamara make a big impact in Chicago, or will it be a forgotten chapter of his storied career? Let us know in the comments below!
