Chicago Fire FC announced that it had signed 25-year-old center-back Sam Rogers from Norwegian Lillestrøm SK. The defender has signed a deal through 2026 and contains options to extend his deal until 2028. The defender comes in at a critical moment in the backline with the team reorganizing under the helm of Gregg Berhalter.
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Career
Born in Seattle, Washington, Sam Rogers started off with the Seattle Sounders FC academy and made his first professional steps with Tacoma Defiance, formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2. From 2017 through 2020, he made 64 appearances in the USL Championship, showing consistent form and versatility. Following a quick run with Oklahoma City Energy FC, the center-back made the biggest move in his career so far as he moved to Norway.
European clubs he played for include HamKam, Rosenborg, and Lillestrøm SK, with 167 professional matches to his name and a goal involvement of 11 strikes and 4 assists. His time in Norway not only shaped his game but geared him up for more significant challenges ahead of the competitive MLS.
Defensive addition symmetrical to berhalter's blueprint
The first words out of Chicago Fire sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter's mouth this transfer window were that shoring up the defense was a main priority. "Shoring up the backline has been a key focus for us, and Sam will bring added competition and depth to the center-back position", Berhalter said. Rogers' signing is part of a broader strategy that also includes former Philadelphia Union defender Jack Elliott.
This will balance and bring experience to a defense that lost players like Rafael Czichos and Tobias Salquist. As the first season for Berhalter rapidly approaches, the feeling cannot be more apparent that the Chicago Fire are banking on a more structured approach in an effort to yield results.
Challenges and expectations for the 2025 Season
Chicago Fire's 2025 season is set to get underway on February 22 against Columbus Crew, as a new chapter unfolds in the club's history. With Berhalter at the helm, not only does the team aim to rise through the table, but it also seeks to rediscover its identity as winners, and Rogers will be an important piece of the puzzle in solidifying the backline, hence enabling the team to play with renewed confidence.
Of course, the success of Rogers will depend on how quickly he adjusts to the pace of MLS, even though the pace is different from that of Europe, it requires a high level of physical and mental strength. From experience in Norway and the foundation built in the United States, he seems well equipped for the challenge ahead.