CHICAGO (Jan. 14, 2024) â Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed Homegrown midfielder Javier Casas Jr. to a new contract. His contract with the Fire will run through 2024, with Club options for 2025 and 2026.
âJavierâs talent, determination and potential as a young Academy player originally set him apart when he signed as a Homegrown Player in 2020,â said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. âHe has been unfortunate with some long-term injuries, but even so, those traits are evident in his performances and training sessions with the first team as well as with Chicago Fire II, and we are excited to see him contribute to the Club in 2024.â
Casas Jr. became the 17th Homegrown player signed by the Fire on March 10, 2020. He made his first team debut on May 13, 2021, entering the match at halftime against D.C. United. Casas has made 10 MLS regular season appearances for the Fire, as well as two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearances. In 2023, Casas helped to provide the game-winning assist in the teamâs 3-2, stoppage time win over Inter Miami CF on March 25.
On the MLS NEXT Pro side, Casas Jr. has appeared in 19 matches (18 starts) since the leagueâs inception in 2022. Casas Jr. played a career-high 11 regular season matches (10 starts) with Chicago Fire II in 2023 and logged 87 minutes in the Fire IIâs postseason match against the New York Red Bulls.
Internationally, Casas Jr. has represented the U.S. Menâs Youth National Teams at the U-16, U-20 and U-22 age levels, most recently representing the United States at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC signs midfielder Javier Casas Jr. to a new MLS contract that will run through the 2024 season, with Club options for 2025 and 2026.
Name: Javier Casas Jr.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5â8â
Weight: 145 lbs.
Date of Birth: May 14, 2003
Hometown: Addison, Illinois
Birthplace: Melrose Park, Illinois
Citizenship: United States of America
