TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Chicago Fire FC have signed defender Nicholas Slonina to a Homegrown deal, the club announced Tuesday. He is the brother of Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who previously signed a Homegrown Player contract as a 14-year-old last season.
Slonina, 18, has agreed to a one-year contract with club options for the next three seasons. He has spent four seasons in the club's academy, appearing in 61 matches. He has been involved with the US youth national team at the U-17 level as well.
"I am proud of the work being done within our academy,” Fire president and GM Nelson Rodriguez said in a statement. “In the last three years we have clearly established ourselves as the best path for Chicago players seeking either a professional or high-level collegiate career. Signing Nick for the first team is the latest example and a likely precursor to more success in the near future."
Slonina is the club's fifth Homegrown player on the current roster, headlined by Djordje Mihailovic. The Fire are still without a head coach and have three Designated Player slots open as they undergo a transformation this offseason.
“Nicholas is a solid central defender who is able to play under pressure with both feet,” said academy technical director Cedric Cattenoy. “He’s extremely vocal along the backline and is a very good teammate. Nick has been a leader for our Academy teams and we’re pleased to see him take this next step in his career.”
