Chicago Fire Re-sign Midfielder Patrick Nyarko

CHICAGO (Nov. 18, 2014) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Tuesday that midfielder Patrick Nyarko has re-signed with the club. Per MLS and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“I’ve been in Chicago my entire career,” said Nyarko. “I appreciate the faith that our owner Andrew Hauptman, the coaching staff and the entire organization has in me. Whenever I step onto the field, I try to repay that faith, so I felt honored that they wanted me to stay here in Chicago. I wanted to stay in Chicago. I feel like I have a score to settle because of my injuries and the team’s performance this past year. No one in the organization was happy with how the year went, and we’re looking to change that. I’m glad that I re-signed and we came to an agreement so I can focus on my rehab and try to get back stronger and help this team get to where it needs to be.”

Selected out of Virginia Tech in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, Nyarko heads into the 2015 season as one of the most experienced players on the Fire roster with 177 regular season appearances since his debut in a road match against FC Dallas on June 15, 2008.

Nyarko has scored 16 goals and added 35 assists, where he sits tied for fourth with Justin Mapp on the club’s all-time assist list.

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His appearance on Oct. 18 this season marked his 200^th competitive appearance for the club, becoming just the ninth player in Fire history to reach the double-century mark.

Nyarko underwent surgery on Nov. 6 to repair a torn Anterior cruciate ligament i his right knee. His expected recovery time is six to eight months.

“I’m glad we were able to work out a deal for Patrick to stay in Chicago,” said Fire head coach Frank Yallop. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him this past season and he’s a steady, positive influence in the locker room. It’s unfortunate that he suffered the knee injury at the conclusion of the season but we’re fully behind his recovery efforts and we look forward to seeing him return to the field.”

Originally from Kumasi, Ghana, Nyarko earned his first cap for the Black Stars on Feb. 29, 2008, playing 45 minutes for Ghana in a 1-1 draw against Chile in Chester, Penn.