The Chicago Fire signed their second homegrown in the span of a week on Friday. Fullback Andre Reynolds joined the team with a four-year contract that includes an option for 2023.
On Tuesday, midfielder Jeremiah Gutjahr signed with the team.
Reynolds, 17, is currently with the first team as it begins preseason training. He has been in the Fire Academy system for four years.
“Having been a fan for years and coming up through the Fire’s youth system, it has always been a dream of mine,” Reynolds said of signing his contract.
Reynolds has played for the U.S. national team at the U-18 and U-19 levels. He was in camp with the U-19s earlier this month.
“We believe there is quite a bit of promise in Andre’s game,” general manager Nelson Rodriguez said. “He has many of the qualities required in the modern back.”
While the Fire lack depth at both left and right back, Reynolds is only 17 so he likely won’t be thrust into regular minutes in 2019.
Reynolds is the 12th homegrown signing in Fire history and fourth on the current roster. He joins Gutjahr, Djordje Mihailovic and Grant Lillard. He is the first Chicago native to sign with the Fire as a homegrown.