CHICAGO, IL–It’s not the #9 that Fire fans are hoping for, but the Fire have added a pair of defenders, and re-signed one of their homegrown players. On Sunday, the club announced the signing of Danish defender Tobias Salquist from Danish Superliga club Silkeborg IF. Salquist is under contract with the Fire through 2025 with a club option for 2026.
Salquist, 28, has spent the past three seasons at Silkeborg where was a key part of a side that had recently returned to the Superliga after winning the Danish First Division in 2018-2019 and has remained in the Superliga ever since.
“We have been monitoring Tobias for almost 18 months and are impressed with many of his qualities,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “Not only do we feel that his technically ability will translate to play in MLS, but he has been a key player for a club that is well-organized and fighting for the top spots in a competitive league.”
Also on Sunday, the Fire re-signed homegrown player midfield Javier Casas Jr. through this coming season with club options for 2025 and 2026. Casas has been with the club since 2020 and has made 10 appearances with the first team and last season made 19 appearance with Chicago Fire II in MLS NEXT Pro.
“Javier’s talent, determination and potential as a young Academy player originally set him apart when he signed as a Homegrown Player in 2020,” said Heitz. “He has been unfortunate with some long-term injuries, but even so, those traits are evident in his performances and training sessions with the first team as well as with Chicago Fire II, and we are excited to see him contribute to the Club in 2024.”
On Monday, the exchange with FC Lugano continued as defender Allan Arigoni has been loaned to the Fire from the Swiss Super League side that is also owned by Joe Mansueto. The loan is through the 2024 season with an option to purchase similar to the deal has led Maren Haile-Selassie here.
Arigoni, 25, joined FC Lugano in July 2022, ahead of the team’s 2022-2023 Swiss Super League season. Since joining the Bianconeri, Arigoni made 55 appearances (47 starts), including 10 appearances (nine starts) in the UEFA Europa League and scored three goals as a defender. He also participated in five Swiss Cup matches, scoring two goals in the 2022-23 campaign.
“We have been able to closely evaluate Allan during his time with our partner club, FC Lugano,” said Heitz. “Adding a right back during this window was a priority for us, and we believe that Allan’s technical and physical abilities are well suited for the League and our game model.”
The team is set to travel on Monday to Bradenton, Florida where they will be for the next twelve days. They will play a pair of friendlies down there against USL Championship side Loudoun United on the 23rd and New York Red Bulls on the 27th before returning to Chicago. In February, the Fire travel to Coachella Valley, CA to take part in the Coachella Valley Invitational where they will take on Austin FC (Feb. 7), LAFC (Feb. 11), Minnesota United (Feb. 14), and Portland Timbers (Feb. 17).
