The 2025 Chicago Fire FC season is the club's 28th season in Major League Soccer. This is the club's first season under owner Joe Mansuetto without sporting director Georg Heitz, who stepped down following the previous season's conclusion.[1] It was announced that he, alongside head coach Frank Klopas, would be replaced by former USMNT and Columbus Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter on October 8, 2024, with Berhalter formally taking over on October 20.[2]
The Fire began their offseason with new head coach and former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter formally taking the reigns from club legend Frank Klopas (who became the club's Vice President of Football) after the club finished dead last in the east in 2024. Berhalter was also appointed as director of football, taking over the general management position from Georg Heitz, who'd announced he was leaving the club in August 2024 after being the Fire's general manager since December 2019.[3] Berhalter was placed in charge of the Fire's first team, their second team, and the Fire's academy, and would ultimately re-work the majority of the Fire's front office and technical staff. On November 8, assistant coaches Paulo Nagamura and Carlos García were formally let go by the club, and the two would be replaced on January 8, with Filipe Celikkaya, Tom Heinemann, and Hector Jiménez being appointed as assistant coaches, with Joe Bendik being announced as assistant goalkeeping coach. The Fire opted to retain goalkeeping coach Zach Thornton and set piece specialist Ryan Needs as well, completing Berhalter's technical staff.[4][5] On the technical side, the Fire announced the departure of technical director Sebastian Pelzer on November 23 after he was named Chief Sports Officer of the Fire's sister club FC Lugano, and later announced the promotion of Eddie Rock on December 23 to Head of Strategy after being Senior Vice President of Football Operations.[6] The Fire also appointed multiple other positions throughout the offseason, culminating in five total new hirings.
On November 8, former Fire player and two-time MLS Cup champion Michael Stephens was announced as the head of player recruitment after holding a similar position with the LA Galaxy.[7]
On November 12, Gregg Broughton was announced as the Fire's new sporting director, taking on a position he'd held months prior with English side Blackburn Rovers.[8]
On December 23, alongside announcing Rock's promotion, the Fire also announced Darcy Norman as Director of Performance and Zayne Thomajan as general manager. Norman had previously worked under Berhalter with the men's national team, and Zayne joined from NWSL side Gotham FC.[9]
On January 8, the Fire also announced Vincent Cavin as Director of Methodology and Talent Manager. Calvin joined after being assistant coach with the men's national team, also under Berhalter.
In total, the Fire made 12 signings this offseason, and brought in one player on loan.
The Fire signed three homegrowns, midfielder Dylan Borso on December 20, midfielder Robert Turdean on January 22, and defender Christopher Cupps on February 18. Turdean's signing was notable, as it was reported to be the second largest homegrown contract in MLS history.[12][13][14]
Two players were promoted from the Fire's second team, signing midfielder/winger and 2024 MLS Next Pro MVP David Poreba on December 12 and Guyana's all-time leading scorer, winger Omari Glasgow on December 17. These two became the first non-homegrown players in team history to be promoted to the first team.[15][16]
The Fire signed one TAM player and loaned another in- Malian midfielder Rominigue Kouamé from Spanish side Cádiz CF on January 24 and Danish winger Philip Zinckernagel from Belgian side Club Brugge KV on January 6. Kouame joined the club on a year-long loan.[20][21]
One U-22 player joined the club, Portugese defender Leonardo Barroso from Portugese side Sporting CP B on January 14. Barroso played under newly-named assistant coach Filipe Celikkaya, who managed the side.[22]
Overall, only five players were transferred, loaned, or let go by the club during the offseason. On December 13, the Fire announced that forward Georgios Koutsias had been loaned to Lugano for the duration of the 2025 season with an option to buy as well as a potential permanent transfer option.[25] On December 24, the Fire announced that DP midfielder Gastón Giménez and the Fire had agreed to mutually terminate his contract, followed January 2 by defender Tobias Salquist being sold to Danish side FC Nordsjælland.[26][27] On January 26, Argentine side Rosario Central announced that they'd acquired U-22 midfielder Federico Navarro, which the Fire confirmed later in the day.[28] On February 13, the Fire bought out French defender Arnaud Souquet's contract after he'd spent the entirety of preseason away from the squad.[29]
Additionally, the Fire brought several academy and Fire II players into preseason camp- goalkeeper Patrick Los, defenders Christopher Cupps, Diego Konincks, and Josue Pfrommer, midfielders Harold Osorio and Sam Williams, and forwards Claudio Cassano and Vitaly Hilyut.
Chris Brady
Degerfors IF
Leonardo Barroso
Jack Elliott
Carlos Terán
Lillestrøm SK
Rominigue Kouamé
Cádiz CF
Maren Haile-Selassie
Hibernian F.C.
Philip Zinckernagel
Club Brugge KV
Jonathan Bamba
Omari Glasgow
Georgios Koutsias
Harold Osorio
Rafael Czichos
CF Montreal
Ariel Lassiter
Gastón Giménez
Federico Navarro
Arnaud Souquet
Geni Kanyane
Fortaleza 
21' Terán
67' Moisés
