Fire signs Serbian midfielder

The Chicago Fire has signed free agent Bratislav Ristic, and the 30-year-old Serbian midfielder can join the team once his Visa and International Transfer Certificate have been approved.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are very excited to have Bratislav," said Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas. "He is a talented, quick and technical player and will be a great addition to our team."

Ristic (5-foot-10, 155 pounds) began his professional career in 1996 at age 16 with Serbian side FC Radnicki. As a young prospect, Ristic was called up to the U-18 Yugoslavian national team, making 10 appearances. In 1998 he was sold to Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge KV, where he helped the team to the Belgian Cup and SuperCup in the 2001/2002 season, and the Belgian First Division Championship during 2002/2003 season. Ristic appeared in 16 matches for Brugge KV before being sold to Ukrainian club FC Metalurh Donetsk in 2003.

During his time with Metalurh Donetsk from 2003 to 2006, Ristic appeared in 70 matches and was the Ukrainian First Division's assist leader during the 2005/2006 season, dishing out 19 assists.

Prior to playing with Serbian side FC Rad Belgrade in 2009, where he appeared in 11 matches, Ristic spent time with Spanish Club Malaga CF, Russian side FC Kuban Krasnodar and Bulgarian club PFC Slavia Sofia.