CHICAGO (May 24, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda to a new contract. Pineda, who originally signed with the Fire as a Homegrown player in January 2020, is now under contract with the Club through the 2026 season with a Club option for 2027.
“Mauricio is part of a core group of young players from Chicago that have demonstrated time and again what it means to represent the Club and the city with pride,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “It’s the second time we have offered Mauri a new contract because we want to make sure that players who come up in our system are acknowledged, valued and compensated in a way that matches their value and contribution to the Club. Mauri’s impact on the field and in the locker room makes him a very important part of this organization and we’re very pleased to extend his future with the Club for several more years.”
The versatile Pineda has been a consistent presence for the Chicago Fire since signing a Homegrown contract on Jan. 17, 2020. Over the course of four seasons, Pineda has played 90 matches with the Fire (78 starts), scoring five goals and dishing out four assists as a defensive midfielder or defender. In 2023, Pineda has played in 11 regular season matches (four starts) as both a midfielder and defender.
Pineda became the first Homegrown Player in Club history to start in every match of the season during his rookie campaign and was named 2020 Chicago Fire FC Defensive Player of the Year. The Bolingbrook, Ill. native registered a team-high 2,022 minutes.
Prior to joining the first team, Pineda featured for the Fire Academy, helping the Club win the National Championship in 2015. Additionally, he spent four years playing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning All-ACC honors all four years.
Internationally, Pineda has represented the U.S. Men’s National Team at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC sign defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda to a new MLS contract that will run through the 2026 season with a Club option for 2027.
Name: Mauricio Pineda
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 171 lbs.
Date of Birth: October 17, 1997
Hometown: Bolingbrook, Illinois
Birthplace: Bolingbrook, Illinois
Citizenship: USA
