Chicago Fire: Who are MLS club that have signed Mbekezeli Mbokazi?

MLS club Chicago Fire finally confirmed the signing of defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates on Tuesday.

Mbokazi has sealed a move abroad after less than a year as a senior team player with the Buccaneers and he will now begin a new chapter of his career in the United States.

The 20-year-old defender becomes the third South African player in the MLS, joining Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United) and Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union).

With Mbokazi looking forward to joining Chicago Fire, who are the MLS club that have given the Hluhluwe-born defender a chance to further his career overseas?

Chicago Fire’s History

Chicago Fire were founded as an American professional soccer club on October 8, 1997.

The franchise was named after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; the official founding date of the team was the 126th anniversary of that event. The team began play in 1998 as one of the league’s first expansion teams.

Chicago Fire maintains an extensive development system, consisting of the Chicago Fire Development Academy and the Chicago Fire Juniors youth organization. They also operate the Chicago Fire Foundation, the team’s community-based charitable division.

Chicago Fire’s Home Ground

The club is based in the city of Chicago in the US state of Illinois and play their home games at the 61,000-seater Soldier Field, which they share with NFL club Chicago Bears.

What is Chicago Fire’s MLS Conference?

In the MLS, Chicago Fire play in the Eastern Conference

Titles won by Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire enjoyed success in the years just after their formation, winning the MLS Cup in 1998 and US Open Cup the same year. They also won the Supporter’s Shield in 2003 and three more US Open Cups in 2000, 2003 and 2006.

Chicago Fire’s Recent Struggles

The club has, however, failed to mount a challenge in recent years with no playoffs between 2019 and 2023 while they were knocked out in the first round in 2024 and 2025.

Who are the African Players at Chicago Fire?

Mbekezeli Mbokazi will be the third African player on the Chicago Fire roster, joining Ivorians Jonathan Bamba and Djé D’Avilla. Winger Bamba has been at the club since January 2025 while midfielder D’Avilla joined in April this year.

Chicago Fire coach

Mbekezeli Mbokazi will work under American coach Gregg Berhalter, who also doubles up as the club’s Sporting Director.

Berhalter has been in charge of Chicago Fire since October 2024 and is an experienced tactician who has also handled the US national team on two occasions as well as MLS side Columbus Crew and Swedish side Hammarby.

Big names that have played for Chicago Fire

Over the years, a number of top players have turned out for the club among them ex-Liverpool and Stoke City forward Xherdan Shaqiri, the most expensive signing in the club’s history at $7.5 million, Bayern munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger and former Mali defender Bakary Soumare.

How did Chicago Fire Perform in 2025?

Chicago Fire will be hoping that the signing of Mbekezeli Mbokazi lifts them in the 2026 season after finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference and 13^th overall in 2025. They qualified for the MLS playoffs but were eliminated in the first round.