Former Liverpool and Switzerland forward Shedan Shaqiri has come to the end of his MLS career with the Chicago Fire FC.
In a development confirmed by the club, the two parties have agreed to end their collaboration after two seasons.
Chicago Fire Club’s statement confirming the termination of Shedan Shaqiri’s contract revealed the club made the move after a discussion with the player.
“After discussions with Xherdan, we have mutually agreed that parting ways is in the best interest of all parties,” the club statement reads.
Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz thanked the former for his contributions to the club and wished him well on his next career chapter.
“We thank him for his contributions to the Club and wish him success in the next chapter of his career,” Georg Heitz says.
Reacting to the mutual termination of his contract, Shaqiri reaffirmed his decision to take up a new challenge. He also thanked the club and the fans for their support throughout his two-year stint and wished them success in their endeavor.
“I believe this is the right time for me to explore new opportunities in my career. I want to thank the Club and the fans for their support during my time in Chicago. I wish the Fire nothing but success moving forward,” he says.
While details of what transpired between Shaqiri and the Chicago Fire have yet to be revealed, the abrupt end to the Swiss’ spell with the club wraps up what has been a stellar MLS run for the player. Shaqiri joined the Chicago-based outfit on February 9, 2022, from Lyon as the club’s most expensive signing for $7.5m.
He signed a two-year contract which was set to expire at the end of the current 2024 MLS campaign. According to reports, Georg Heitz, who worked with the player while he (Georg Heitz) was at Basel, played a big role in the signing of the former Bayern Munich forward in 2022. He has apparently played a role in the exit of the player as well.
Shedan Shaqiri Chicago Fire FC career recap
Shaqiri remained one of Chicago Fire FC’s best attackers. He banged in 14 MLS goals in 69 appearances for the club, including two goals in six appearances in other competitions.
He scored seven MLS goals in his debut campaign and another seven in the ongoing campaign. Shaqiri’s most notable performance for the Illinois franchise was against Vancouver Whitecaps, in which he scored a long-range goal to hand the club a narrow 1-0 win.
What is next for Shedan Shaqiri after Chicago Fire FC’s exit?
As confirmed by the player, he is hoping to take up a new challenge following his exit from Chicago Fire FC. The 32-year-old could be nearing the twilight of his career, but his elite-level performance has made him a top target for other football clubs. He has been linked to a return to Europe with his former club, Basel, interested in his services.
Shedan Shaqiri’s career stats
In all competitions, Shedan Shaqiri made 130 appearances for Basel, 81 for Bayern Munich, 92 for Stoke City, 63 for Liverpool, 16 for Lyon, and 75 for Chicago Fire FC. He has totaled 492 club appearances, scoring 92 goals.
Shedan Shaqiri’s teams
Shedan Shaqiri first played for seven different football clubs in his career. He started with Basel in Switzerland before Bayern Munich in 2012. He has also played for Inter Milan, Stoke City, Liverpool, and Lyon before joining Chicago Fire FC.
Shedan Shaqiri’s height
Shedan Shaqiri is known for his short stature. He is 1.7m tall. While this has limited his aerial, it has aided his speed and swift transitions with the ball.
