Chicago Fire trades defender Jim Curtin to Chivas USA

The Chicago Fire on Tuesday traded defender Jim Curtin to Chivas USA for a conditional 2010 SuperDraft selection.

"Jimmy is definitely a guy we're going to miss after so many years with the Chicago Fire," said Fire technical director Frank Klopas. "With the salary situation as it is, we needed to make sure we had space to acquire new players. It's never an easy decision to lose someone as dedicated to the game like Jimmy, but we're confident he will transition well at Chivas USA."

"First I want to thank Jimmy for his service and his professionalism with the team both on and off the field these past seven years," said Fire head coach Denis Hamlett. "He was a great leader for this organization and we wish him nothing but the best with his future at Chivas USA."

Curtin, 28, leaves the Fire after playing seven seasons (2001-07) with the "Men in Red." The Orland, Pa., native was a member of the squad's 2003 and 2006 U.S. Open Cup championship sides and a winner of the Fire's 2004 Defender of the Year award.

While with the Fire, the 6-foot-4 Villanova product assumed the role of "Ironman," making 68 straight starting appearances through the 2003-05 seasons.

Injuries limited Curtin's playing time through the 2006 campaign, when he suffered a fractured right foot, and later when he suffered a shoulder injury in August 2007.

While Curtin's career totals of 4 goals and 6 assists are modest, it is his 151 games played and 135 starts (ranked sixth in club history) and 12,408 minutes played (fifth in club history) that cement his place as one of the steadiest central backs in MLS.