CHICAGO (Dec. 18, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has acquired forward Tom Barlow from the New York Red Bulls. In exchange, the Red Bulls will receive $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM), including $125,000 in 2024 GAM and $125,000 in 2025 GAM. The Red Bulls could receive an additional $150,000 in GAM if Barlow meets certain performance-based metrics with the Fire. Barlow’s contract with the Fire will run through the 2025 MLS season with a Club option for 2026.
“We are pleased to welcome Tom to Chicago as we continue to build our roster for the 2024 season,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “After identifying our needs for the upcoming season, we aimed to add a forward with MLS experience who can influence matches in various ways and help to provide more depth and competition within the squad. We believe that Tom’s speed, mentality, and knowledge of the League will be very beneficial to the team, and we look forward to seeing his contributions on the field.”
Barlow, 28, joins Chicago after featuring for the New York Red Bulls for the past five seasons. Most recently, Barlow played in 34 MLS regular season matches during the 2023 regular season (20 starts) and three playoff matches (three starts). Overall, Barlow made 128 appearances (55 starts) and scored 17 goals for the Red Bulls, tallying five starts and three goals in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Prior to joining the New York Red Bulls, Barlow scored 23 goals in 78 matches at the University of Wisconsin, including 10 game-winning goals, and played alongside current Chicago Fire winger Chris Mueller. Following his four years in Madison, Barlow went on to play for Reading United AC, the Des Moines Menace and Chicago FC United of the Premier Development League (PDL), before joining the New York Red Bulls organization via New York Red Bulls II in 2018. Barlow played 40 matches and scored 21 goals for RBNY II in the USL Championship before signing a first team contract in 2019.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC acquires Tom Barlow from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money, including $125,000 in 2024 GAM and $125,000 in 2025 GAM. The Red Bulls could also receive an additional $150,000 in GAM if Barlow meets certain performance-based metrics with the Fire.
Name: Tom Barlow
Position: Forward
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Date of Birth: July 8, 1995
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Citizenship: USA
Last Club: New York Red Bulls
