Fire acquire Tchani from Vancouver (Update)

Tony Tchani (#16-right) is moving on from Vancouver and will be joining the Chicago Fire in 2018 (photo credit: Hazel May)

Fire fans were getting restless about the perceived lack of activity in the player transaction front with just 22 players signed and the season starting 10 days from now. At least there is now activity. The Fire acquired midfielder Tony Tchani from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for $150,000 of targeted allocation money (TAM).

Tchani, 29 in April, started 26 of 27 regular season appearances for the Whitecaps and scored four goals and one assist. He also made a pair of appearances in the MLS Playoffs and one in CONCACAF Champions League Play. Prior to that, Tchani spent five seasons with Columbus. His best year with the Crew was in 2015 with five goals, six assists, and an MLS Cup appearance. Tchani made 130 regular season appearances for the Crew. Prior to the Crew, he was drafted in 2010 by New York Red Bulls and was with Toronto FC in 2011 before being traded to Columbus later that year.

The Cameroon-born Tchani made an appearance in a friendly for the USA against Iceland in 2013, but then made an appearance for Cameroon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in 2016.

“Tony is a proven player and winner within MLS. His skill set will be complementary to our current squad and we are pleased to add his talents,” said Fire president and general manager Nelson Rodríguez.

THOUGHTS: Tchani is a capable midfielder in MLS and will no doubt add depth to a midfield that has Bastian Schweinsteiger and Dax McCarty, but no longer Juninho, and Michael de Leeuw injured. Who knows how many more moves will be made between now and March 10th and the home opener against Sporting Kansas City.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: The Fire formally signed draft picks Diego Campos and Elliot Collier on Wednesday. Campos was selected in the second round (38th overall) from Clemson while Collier was selected in the third round (49th overall) from Loyola Chicago.