TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Chicago Fire FC announced they have acquired striker Robert Berić from Ligue 1's Saint-Étienne via transfer and signed the Slovenia international to a Designated Player contract. Beric will be under contract for the next two seasons with a club option for 2022.
The move for Beric, who will occupy an international roster slot, is pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa.
“We are very excited to add Robert to our roster ahead of the upcoming season,” Chicago coach Raphael Wicky said in a statement. “Robert is hard-working, intelligent No. 9 who has the ability to score goals at a high rate. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his family to Chicago.”
The 28-year-old Beric comes to the Fire with more than 330 appearances in the top divisions in Slovenia, Austria and France. He has 122 goals in his first-team career, including 12 in the UEFA Europa League and four in the UEFA Champions League. Internationally, Berić has two goals in 25 caps for the Slovenia national team.
“I’m very happy to be in Chicago, and I think this is a going to be a great new era for the Fire,” Berić said in a statement. “I am looking forward to getting to work with my new teammates and starting the new season.”
Berić's most productive club season was his 2014-2015 campaign with Rapid Vienna, when he scored 27 goals in 33 league appearances to finish second in the Austrian Bundesliga's golden boot race. More recently, he scored 26 league goals across portions of five seasons for Saint-Etienne, including nine in the 2018-2019 season.
