The Swiss offensive player has terminated his contract with the Major League Soccer club.
Where will his path lead? Xherdan Shaqiri will no longer play for Chicago.
those. Xherdan Shaqiri is about to start a new chapter in his career. The 32-year-old from Basel has terminated his contract with the Chicago Fire in the USA. The club announced this on its website on Wednesday. “After discussions with Xherdan, we have agreed that a separation is in the best interests of all parties involved,” said the Swiss sports director of the MLS club, Georg Heitz. Heitz himself recently announced his resignation at the end of the season next fall.
Unhappy in Chicago
Shaqiri has played in Chicago since 2022 and scored 16 goals in 75 appearances. His contract would have expired at the end of this season. Shaqiri has recently shown his dissatisfaction. The club missed the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. Chicago is struggling this season as well.
Shaqiri previously played for Lyon, Liverpool, Stoke City, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and his youth club FC Basel. He won a Champions League title in Munich and Liverpool. The attacking player won the English, German and Swiss championships with his clubs.
Technically gifted
Short, bulky but technically gifted, Shaqiri is considered one of the most spectacular Swiss footballers. After 125 appearances for the national team and seven finals appearances, he announced his retirement after the 2024 European Championship. Many will remember his 32 goals in the red and white jersey.
It is unclear where Shaqiri wants to launch his career again. In the past, FC Basel has repeatedly brought former talents such as Marco Streller, Benjamin Huggel, Valentin Stocker and Alex Frei back home and has become a power in Swiss football because of this. The club has now been resized. The fact that former serial champion maker Heitz and Shaqiri announced their departure from Chicago at almost the same time will probably make some FCB fans dream.