Fire signs Addison's Nicholas Slonina
The Chicago Fire on Tuesday announced it has signed 18-year-old central defender Nicholas Slonina of Addison to a homegrown contract.
The 6-foot-3 Slonina is signed for 2020 with club options for the following three seasons.
“I am proud of the work being done within our academy,” club president and general manager Nelson RodrÃguez said in a team news release. “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's brother Gabriel, a goalkeeper, signed a homegrown contract with the Fire in March at age 14, becoming the youngest player to sign an MLS homegrown contract. He is signed through 2022 with a club option for 2023.
Nicholas Slonina's signing brings the Fire roster to 17 players, including five homegrown players. Djordje Mihailovic of Lemont, Jeremiah Gutjahr and Andre Reynolds II are the other homegrown players on the roster.