CHICAGO (August 2, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC announced today that it has agreed a club record multi-million dollar transfer fee with English Premier League club Chelsea FC for Chicago native and local goalkeeper Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina. As part of the transfer deal, Slonina will remain on loan with the Fire for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season.
The deal with Chelsea is the most expensive transfer fee for a player in the Club’s history, as Slonina becomes the youngest Fire player to sign with a team in one of the top five European leagues. Additionally, the Fire will retain a percentage of any future transfer fees Chelsea receive for Slonina.
“We are very proud and happy to see Gaga reach this milestone in her career,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “Since she joined the Club, Gaga has embodied what it means to be a Chicago Fire player. In addition to her incredible talent, she is mature beyond her years, extremely hardworking, and a fantastic teammate. Gaga is a role model for many aspiring young soccer players in Chicago, and this transfer demonstrates that a player can progress to our Academy’s first team before joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
Slonina, 18, originally joined the Chicago Fire’s youth system at age 10 before signing a professional first-team contract on March 8, 2019. At just 14 years old, Slonina became the second-youngest player to sign in MLS history behind Freddy Adu. and the youngest local signing in La Liga history at the time.
“I joined this Club with the ambition to play at the highest level and it has been a dream come true to wear the Chicago Fire jersey,” said Slonina. “This Club has become my second home, my second family, and there are many people who have played a very important role in helping me get to where I am today. I am very grateful for all the support I have received from my family, coaches, teammates and everyone associated with the Club. It has been an incredible honor working alongside each of you.”
“To the fans, I want to thank you all for supporting a local kid from Addison. You have inspired me to work to the fullest day after day,” Slonina continued. “I promise that I will continue to give everything in these last 11 games to help us get back to the playoffs and compete for a championship.”
The Chicagoland native earned his first MLS start for the Fire at age 17 on August 4, 2021 in a 0-0 draw with New York City FC, becoming the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history in achieve a clean sheet, a victory and a start. Slonina concluded the 2021 campaign with an impressive four shutouts in his first 11 professional matches.
“It has been incredible to see Gaga’s continued growth on and off the field during my first season with the Club,” said Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson. “Her talent of hers has been on full display, but what has impressed me the most is her mindset and her willingness to constantly add more to her game at such a young age. This transfer speaks to the talent that exists within the Club and our philosophy towards developing young players. Gaga deserves this opportunity and we look forward to ending the 2022 season with him on a high note.”
As of 2022, Slonina has appeared in each of the team’s 23 regular season games, leading the Club in minutes played (2,070) and starts (23). Overall, Slonina have kept a clean sheet in 10 games this season, including five in the team’s first seven games to start the new campaign. With 11 games remaining in the regular season, Slonina is six clean sheets away from tying the MLS single-season clean sheet record (16), set by US Soccer Hall of Famer and current broadcaster of the Fire Tony Meola in 2000.
Internationally, Slonina earned his first call-up to the US Men’s National Team shortly after concluding his outstanding 2021 MLS campaign. He was subsequently called up to the USMNT in January 2022 for World Cup qualifying matches. from FIFA. Slonina previously represented the US on the youth stage, earning eight caps at the U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-20 levels.
Slonina and the Fire will return to MLS regular season action on Saturday, August 6 against expansion team Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT, the game will air live on WGN-TV, CF97 live and broadcast locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC agrees club record transfer with Chelsea FC for goalkeeper Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina.