TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
The Chicago Fire added a veteran presence up top heading into the weekend, announcing on Friday evening that they had signed free agent forward Alan Gordon.
"Alan's ability to link with the midfield while under pressure and his prowess in aerial duels are skill sets that we needed to add," said Nelson Rodriguez, president and general manager of the Chicago Fire, in a team statement. "Those attributes, combined with his winning mentality and comfort as either a starter or substitute, make him an ideal fit for us this season.
Gordon, 36, brings 14 seasons of MLS experience to the Fire, and officially joins the roster after spending the MLS preseason on trial with the team. His contract is guaranteed through the 2018 season.
Gordon most recently spent the 2017 season with the Colorado Rapids, where he scored three goals in 26 league appearances.
Gordon began his MLS career when he was selected in the sixth round (53rd overall) of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the LAGalaxy. In his sophomore season, he appeared in three postseason matches as the Galaxy captured the MLS Cup. Gordon appeared in 99 regular season matches, scoring 16 goals and adding 12 assists for the Galaxy before he was traded to Chivas USA in 2010, where he scored one goal and tallied three assists in nine matches.
Gordon joined Toronto FC prior to the start of the 2011 season and had four goals and one assist to his credit in eight matches. He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in July of 2011 and appeared in 62 matches, scoring 17 goals and adding 10 assists before returning to the Galaxy in Aug. 2014. Gordon appeared in five postseason matches in 2014 to win his second title.
In total, Gordon has scored 55 goals and tallied 32 assists in 271 regular season matches, and two goals and two assists in 18 postseason matches.
The Long Beach, California native has earned two caps for the US men's national team, including a FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Oct. 12, 2012 and the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal on July 22, 2015.
The Fire, who fell in a thriller against Sporting KC to open their season last Saturday, travel to Minnesota United for their second game of the season on Saturday afternoon (2 pm ET | MLS LIVE; on DAZN in Canada).
