December 12, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has acquired Chicago native Andrew Gutman from the Colorado Rapids. The defender has signed a new contract with the Fire that will run through the 2026 MLS season with a Club option for 2027.
In exchange, the Rapids will receive defender Miguel Navarro and $450,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM), including $225,000 in 2024 GAM and $225,000 in 2025 GAM. Additionally, the Fire will receive a percentage of any future transfer fee if Navarro is transferred to a team outside of MLS.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew back to the Fire,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “Andrew is an attacking fullback who possesses the specific skillset that we were seeking for this position. Additionally, as a Chicagoan and former Academy player, he understands what it means to represent this Club and is extremely motivated to help the team achieve our goals in 2024.”
A product of the Chicago Fire Academy, Gutman, 27, returns to the Club with 107 appearances in MLS play (90 starts), recording 10 goals and 10 assists as a fullback. In 2023, Gutman tallied three goals and five assists in 18 appearances (16 starts) with Atlanta United FC before joining the Rapids, where he made 12 appearances (12 starts) in the second half of the campaign.
Gutman originally began his professional career in 2019 when he signed with Scottish Premier League side Celtic F.C. He spent the first half of his rookie season on loan in the USL Championship with Charlotte Independence, before moving to FC Cincinnati on loan for the remainder of the 2019 season. Gutman made 29 appearances for Cincinnati during the 2019 and 2020 MLS campaigns, before signing a three-year contract with Atlanta United.
In 2021, Gutman spent the year on loan with the New York Red Bulls and helped lead the team to the MLS Cup Playoffs, notching two goals and two assists in 22 regular season appearances (19 starts). Returning to Atlanta for the 2022 season, Gutman recorded an MLS career-high in goals (four) and assists (five) and made 43 appearances (38 starts) while playing for the Five Stripes in 2022-2023.
Prior to beginning his professional career, Gutman featured for the Chicago Fire Academy and was a key part of the Club’s U-17/18 National Championship run, scoring in the team’s 3-1 win in the final. Gutman then spent four years at the collegiate level with Indiana…
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