Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC II has announced the acquisition of forward Claudio Cassano from AS Cittadella, a club in Italy's Serie B. Cassano's contract with Chicago Fire FC II extends through 2027, with an option for 2028. Financial details of the agreement were not revealed.

"Claudio is an exciting young talent, and we see him as a player with the potential to make an impact at the first-team level," stated Gregg Broughton, Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director. "His signing highlights our focus on leveraging Chicago Fire FC II and MLS NEXT Pro to develop players who can quickly transition to MLS. We’re excited to support Claudio’s continued growth and look forward to seeing his contributions to the Club."

Cassano, aged 21, joins after spending six years in AS Roma's youth system before moving to AS Cittadella in August 2023. He debuted in Serie B on August 26, 2023, playing 32 minutes in a match against Parma that ended in a 2-0 victory. Over his time at Cittadella, he participated in 42 matches, scoring four goals and assisting three times.

"Claudio is a special talent and to bring someone who came through the ranks at AS Roma shows elevation of the standard we’re setting at the Club," commented Alex Boler, General Manager of Chicago Fire II. "We are confident he will fit our environment and philosophy and are excited to welcome him to Chicago."

During his tenure at AS Roma, Cassano was part of the team that won the Copa Italia Primavera during the 2022-23 season. He played across various age groups—U-17, U-18, and U-20—scoring a total of 40 goals with 15 assists. His performance drew attention from then-head coach Jose Mourinho who included him for Roma’s Europa League match against Real Betis on October 13, 2022.

Internationally, Cassano has made three appearances for Italy's U-20 Men's National Team in Group 1 of the European U-20 Elite League against teams like Czechia, Germany, and Romania.

Transaction: Chicago Fire FC II acquires forward Claudio Cassano under an MLS NEXT Pro contract valid until 2027 with an option for extension till 2028.