Chicagoland Native Signs First Team Deal after Standout Season with Chicago Fire FC II in MLS NEXT Pro
CHICAGO (Dec. 11, 2024) - Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed midfielder David Poreba to an MLS contract. Poreba’s contract with the Fire runs through the 2025 season with Club options for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Poreba, who was named the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro MVP after a record-setting campaign, becomes the first Chicago Fire FC II player to sign an MLS contract with the First Team.
“David has earned this opportunity after an impressive season with Chicago Fire FC II, where he received MLS NEXT Pro MVP and Golden Boot honors,” said Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “David is a very promising young player with strong leadership qualities, and we look forward to seeing his continued development at the next level.”
A native of Lake Zurich, Ill., Poreba, 22, joins the First Team after serving as captain of Chicago Fire II for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. In addition to being named MVP, Poreba also earned the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot and was named to the MLS NEXT Pro Best XI after scoring a league-leading 18 goals and recording six assists in 28 regular season appearances (28 starts).
Poreba became the first Fire II player to win multiple MLS NEXT Pro yearly awards and the first to earn MVP and Best XI honors since the team’s inception in 2022. Additionally, in his first season with Chicago at the professional level, Poreba joined the First Team squad on four Short-Term Agreements during the MLS regular season and Leagues Cup 2024.
Poreba joined the Club in January on loan from Polish club Stal Mielec. Prior to his return to Chicago, Poreba was a member of Crown Legacy for the majority of 2023, during which he started 27 of the 29 MLS NEXT Pro matches in which he played. Poreba more than tripled his single-season career-high six goals from the prior season in his first full campaign with Fire II, scoring a league-leading 18 goals.
At the amateur level, Poreba began his playing career with the Chicago Fire Academy. Shortly after, Poreba became a member of the Chicago FC United Academy. Following his time in the United States, Poreba joined Polish side Stal Mielec as a member of their reserve team. He made two appearances for their senior team, before joining Crown Legacy FC on loan in December of 2022.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC signs midfielder David Poreba to an MLS contract.
Name: David Poreba (poor-EH-buh)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Date of Birth: December 1, 2002
Hometown: Lake Zurich, Ill.
Birthplace: Chicago
Citizenship: USA, Poland
Last Club: Stal Mielec
