The Chicago Fire have signed Anzor Mekvabishvili from Romanian Liga I club Universitatea Craiova.
Mekvabishvili is a Georgian international and has played in Romania since 2024. His contract runs through the end of the 2028-29 MLS season.
Negotiations between the Fire and Craiova advanced in recent weeks, with the Romanian side balancing their summer business with UEFA qualifying matches. The transfer was only finalized after Craiova's UEFA Europa League qualifying loss to Ararat-Armenia on Thursday, which ensured they would only play Conference League football this season.
Mekvabishvili, who turned 25 earlier this summer, is a central midfielder who can play both in a holding role and as a box-to-box player; the plan is that he will be used as more of a #8 in Chicago, given the team's other options in defensive midfield. He has 33 caps for Georgia's national team.
Significantly, Mekvabishvili would not be a Designated Player for the Fire, despite a reported transfer fee of roughly $3.4 million (€3 million). His salary will allow him to be a TAM player without filling the Fire's third DP slot. Gregg Berhalter had expressed interest in signing "multiple" pieces this transfer window as the Fire push for an MLS title this season.
The news of Mekvabishvili's arrival comes in the aftermath of one of the Fire's other targets this summer – ex-FC Bayern München and Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka – finalizing a move to Premier League giants Aston Villa. It means the Fire are signing the additional central midfielder they so desire, but rather than a globally-recognized name, it is a relative unknown.
The Fire now have several options in central midfield – in addition to Mekvabishvili, Berhalter can call upon Djé D'Avilla, Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel Jr., David Poreba, Robin Lod, and is awaiting the return of André Franco.
The reported fee makes Mekvabishvili the 13th-most-expensive incoming signing in Fire history, according to Transfermarkt. The €2 million figure would be slightly less than Georgios Koutsias (€2.36 million), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (€2.5 million), and Anton Salétros (€2.7 million). It would be level with Robert Berić (€2 million) and David Accam (€2 million).
Following the completion of the transfer, Mekvabishvili traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia, to work on his U.S. visa. He will require an international slot on the Fire's roster and will be available for selection as soon as the visa is finalized.
The MLS summer window closes on September 2nd, so any potential transfers would have to be completed before then. Clubs can sign free agents until the MLS roster freeze on October 9th.
