CHICAGO (Oct. 7, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed midfielder Gastón Giménez to a new contract, opening a Designated Player slot on the team’s roster. Giménez’s new contract will begin on Jan. 1, 2023, and he will be under contract with the Fire through the 2025 season. Additionally, the Paraguay international received his U.S. Green Card earlier this year and will not occupy an international roster slot.
“Gaston is a talented player who is very important to the Club”, said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “His decision to restructure his contract to provide the team with more roster flexibility speaks volumes about his character and desire to win titles with the Fire.”
Giménez, 30, was originally acquired by the Club via transfer from Superliga Argentina side Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield on Feb. 24, 2020. He has played in 65 matches (59 starts) with the Fire, and prior to his injury on Saturday, Aug. 13 against the Philadelphia Union, Giménez was second on the team in line-breaking passes with 3.2 per 90 minutes, second on the team in entries into the final third with 4.9 per 90 minutes, and he was second on the team in tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes with 5.8.*
Prior to joining the Fire, Giménez made 235 appearances across all competitions while playing in Argentina. In addition to Vélez Sarsfield, he spent time with Estudiantes, Godoy Cruz, Atlético Tucumán and Club Almirante Brown during a 10-year stretch.
Internationally, Giménez earned two caps (one start) for the Argentina National Team in 2018. Shortly after joining the Fire, the midfielder completed a one-time change of association through FIFA to join the Paraguay National Team and has since made nine appearances (eight starts) in the Copa America and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Chicago Fire FC will face off against the New England Revolution on Decision Day in the final match of the 2022 MLS regular season at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 9. Kickoff against the Revolution is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT and tickets to the game are available here. The contest will also be televised live on WGN-TV and CF97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM. The Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary throughout the weekend, culminating with the match against New England followed by a postgame concert.
On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Club will host a welcome event during which all RSVP’d alumni (see complete alumni list here) will be available to media from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. CT at the Club’s downtown offices located at 1 N Dearborn St. Media interested in attending must RSVP to Megan O’Keefe, Senior Manager of Communications, at mokeefe@chicagofirefc.com by Friday, Oct. 7 at 12:00 p.m. CT.Transaction: Chicago Fire FC sign midfielder Gastón Giménez to a new contract using Targeted Allocation Money through the 2025 season.
*Sourced from Second Spectrum and Statsbomb
