Chicago Fire sign defender Patrick Doody as Homegrown Player

CHICAGO (Dec. 22, 2014) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday that they have signed defender Patrick Doody as the club’s sixth Homegrown Player. Doody, a Fire Academy and PDL product, joins the Men in Red from Indiana University. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Patrick is a talented, young player and another local product who understands what wearing the Fire badge represents,” said Fire Head Coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop. “It speaks highly of the work our player development system has been doing to produce another player who can make the transition to the First Team.”

• READ: 2014-2015 Transaction Tracker

Doody, a native of Naperville, Ill., joins the Fire after a standout collegiate career at Indiana University. In 83 matches for the Hoosiers, Doody scored six goals and tallied thwelve assists. A senior captain, Doody was recently named to the 2014 Big Ten All-Tournament team. In 2012, Doody assisted on the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Georgetown, leading IU to their eight national title.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Fire,” said Doody. “It’s neat because I started with the Fire Academy as a 15-year-old so to now come full circle and walk into Toyota Park as a professional is really special.”

A graduate of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill., the Fire Academy and PDL alum joins Collin Fernandez, Chris Ritter and Harry Shipp as the fourth Homegrown Player on the Fire’s first team roster for 2015.