Chicago Fire sign Uruguayan Arevalo Ríos as Designated Player

The Uruguayan will add steel to the Fire midfield, while the club also announced the release of Designated Player Sherjill MacDonald

The Chicago Fire announced Wednesday that the club has signed Uruguayan midfielder Arévalo Ríos from Italian side Palermo. Ríos will be added to the Fire’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa, and will occupy a Designated Player slot.

In a corresponding move, the Fire and Designated Player forward Sherjill MacDonald mutually agreed to part ways. The Dutch striker scored four goals and tallied five assists in 27 matches for the Fire.

Rios, 31, is an experienced holding midfielder whose career began in his native Uruguay with Bella Vista and then Peñarol, before he moved on to Brazilian club Botafogo. He then joined Tijuana in 2011, where he led the Xolos to the 2012 Liga MX Apertura championship.

“Arevalo is a midfielder with a wealth of international experience,” said Fire president of soccer operations Javier Leon. “He provides another talented option for our midfield and will help us make the push for the second half of the season.”

Rios is a Uruguay international who has earned 46 caps for his country, He made seven appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, helping Uruguay to a fourth place finish. Most recently he competed in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he made three appearances.

Source: Goal.com