Chicago Fire Reportedly Signing Claudio Cassano

The Chicago Fire’s preseason is fully underway, but that is not stopping the MLS side from adding pieces while the team is training in Florida.

The Fire are adding forward Claudio Cassano from Citadella in Serie B, Italy’s second division. Gianluca Di Marzio first reported the news. Cassano will be signing with Chicago Fire II, per Alex Calabrese.

Cassano, 21, has spent the last two seasons with Citadella, where he’s scored four goals in his 40 appearances and logged nearly 2,000 minutes in Serie B. The forward came up through AS Roma’s youth system but never made a senior appearance for the top-level side.

Listed at 5’7.5”, Cassano is a right-footed forward who can play on both wings and in an attacking midfield role should he be lined up behind a striker. His pace is arguably his best asset, and he can thrive when given opportunities in space.

Cassano should push Maren Haile-Selassie and other wingers for the “first off the bench” role under Gregg Berhalter, though he could be a starter in 2025 if he adjusts quickly to Major League Soccer. He is also a strong candidate to play a bunch of minutes for Chicago Fire II in MLS Next Pro.