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Chicago Fire homegrown defender Justin Reynolds has been traded to Sporting Kansas City, the clubs announced this afternoon. In exchange, the Fire received a third round SuperDraft pick in 2028 and up to $100,000 of General Allocation Money.
Reynolds, 21, spent most of his time in Chicago as a second team player, only making 14 total first team appearances. Most notably, he came off the bench to provide the game-winning goal against Inter Miami in September, clinching a playoff spot for the Fire, and becoming the first homegrown player born in the City of Chicago to score for the club.
Reynolds has been with the team for his entire development, featuring regularly for the academy before signing a first team deal in 2022 ahead of the 2023 season. He spent a brief spell on loan at sister club FC Lugano in early 2024 before making his MLS debut shortly after. Reynolds made 62 total appearances for Fire II, more than anyone else in the history of the second team, and captained them on numerous occasions as they reached the playoffs in back-to-back-to-back seasons in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
For most of 2025, Reynolds was a prime contender to leave the club. He did not train with the first team for most of the summer, after several months where it seemed like the possibility of him leaving was quite distinct. Nonetheless, he broke back into the first team right at end of the season, and had an impact down the final stretch as the Fire returned to the playoffs.
Now, the Fire get a little bit of value for a someone who is their fourth choice right back, being Leo Barroso, Jonathan Dean, and Omari Glasgow. Reynolds will have a new opportunity to establish himself at the MLS level with SKC, a team the Fire will get used to facing in the soon-to-be-announced Midwest Division.
