CHICAGO, IL–Chicago Fire FC have made official the signing of Swiss International midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri from Ligue 1 side Lyon for a record $7.5 million. Shaqiri, 30, is now signed through the 2024 season and will arrive pending receipt of his P-1 visa and international transfer certificate.
“We’re extremely pleased to formally welcome Xherdan Shaqiri to the Fire,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “Xherdan is a game-changing player and someone who will bring joy to our supporters and the city of Chicago. As one of the most accomplished Swiss athletes of his generation, Xherdan joins us at a very important time for the Club and fully believes in what we are aiming to accomplish. We look forward to welcoming him and his family to Chicago very soon.”
Shaqiri comes to the Fire with a wealth of experience internationally and has won trophies most everywhere he has gone. He has made 421 combined appearances starting with FC Basel (2009-2012) and continuing with Bayern Munich (2012-2015), Inter Milan (2015), Stoke City (2015-2018), and Liverpool (2018-2021).
With the Swiss National Team, he has earned 100 caps and scored 26 goals and has help “The Nati” each three successive World Cup and automatic qualification to the 2022 World Cup to be held later this November. In nine FIFA World Cup appearances, Shaqiri has scored four goals for his home country, including a hat-trick against Honduras in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Shaqiri has also added four goals and two assists in nine European Championship appearances for Switzerland, including three goals and one assist at Euro 2020 where they reached the quarterfinals.
Shaqiri will wear the #10 shirt and become the Fire’s second Designated Player after Gaston Gimenez. He is fluent in Albanian, English, German, French and Italian.
