Fire re-signs Nyarko

The Chicago Fire announced Tuesday it has re-signed veteran midfielder Patrick Nyarko. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Nyarko was paid a base salary of $265,000 in 2014, according to the MLS Players Union, the third highest salary on the club.

The Fire's first-round draft pick in 2008, the 28-year-old Nyarko played in just 17 matches in 2014 because of injuries. He had 1 goal and 3 assists before tearing an ACL against D.C. United on Oct. 18.

"I'm glad we were able to work out a deal for Patrick to stay in Chicago," Fire coach Frank Yallop said in a team statement. "I had the pleasure of working with him this past season and he's a steady, positive influence in the locker room. It's unfortunate that he suffered the knee injury at the conclusion of the season but we're fully behind his recovery efforts and we look forward to seeing him return to the field."

The Fire also announced it exercised the contract options on six players: Quincy Amarikwa, Chris Ritter, Matt Watson, Greg Cochrane and backup goalkeepers Kyle Reynish and Alec Kann.

The Fire declined options on 11 players, including key veterans Gonzalo Segares, Bakary Soumare and Alex. Marco Franco, the club's 2014 first-round draft pick, also had his option declined. He did not play in any games for the Fire last season.

"I believe that we have a good, solid core of returning players for us to build upon as we continue to prepare for the 2015 season," Yallop said. "We're currently working towards new deals for several players who are out of contract or whose options have been declined and look to finalize those in the coming weeks."

The Fire has eight players under contract for 2015, including captain Jeff Larentowicz, 2013 MLS MVP Mike Magee, Nyarko and loaned-out designated player Juan Luis Anangono.

Homegrown player Victor Pineda, a Bolingbrook native loaned out to Indy Eleven last season, is out of contract.