CHICAGO (March 10, 2020)– Chicago Fire FC announced today that the Club has signed Academy midfielder Javier Casas Jr. to a homegrown contract. Casas, 16, is the 17th Homegrown signing in Club history. He is under contract with the Fire until 2023 with a Club option for 2024.
“Javier has shown tremendous upside as he has been training within the first-team throughout the 2020 season,” said Head Coach Raphael Wicky. “His soccer IQ is beyond his years and our staff is looking forward to working with him to continue his development in a professional setting.”
Casas joins the Fire after spending the past six seasons (2015-2020) with the Fire Juniors and Academy in Chicago. Throughout his time with the Fire organization, Casas has made 65 total appearances (64 starts), including 19 appearances (19 starts) for the Academy. Casas participated in the Fire’s first-team training camp last season and joined the first team in both Tampa and Los Angeles for the 2020 preseason.
“We’re thrilled to see another quality player such as Javier sign a Homegrown contract,” said Chicago Fire FC Academy Technical Director Cedric Cattenoy. “He fully understands the values of this Club and will continue to progress in the professional ranks.”
With the U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams, Casas has been a consistent presence on the boys’ side. Most recently, Casas was part of the U.S. Boys’ U-16 National Team that took home the Championship at the 2019 Nike Friendlies.
The Chicago Fire play a third consecutive away game on Saturday, March 14, taking on Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast live on WGN-TV and ESPN+ and aired in Spanish on TUDN Radio WRTO 1200 AM. The pregame show, presented by CIBC, will begin on ESPN+ at 6:15 p.m. CT.
Chicago will officially make its return to Soldier Field on Saturday, March 21 when the team hosts Atlanta United FC in its 2020 home opener at 2:30 p.m. CT (Univision). Single-match tickets for all 17 of the Fire’s home games are available by calling 888-MLS-FIRE or by clicking here.
Transacation: Chicago Fire Football Club signs Javier Casas as a Homegrown Player on March 10, 2020.
Name: Javier Casas
Position: Midfield
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 145 lbs.
Date of Birth: May 14, 2003
Birthplace: Melrose Park, Ill.
Hometown: Addison, Ill.
Citizenship: United States of America
High School: Addison Trail High School
