Mauricio Pineda signs contract extension with Chicago Fire

Mauricio Pineda has signed a contract extension with the Chicago Fire that runs through the 2026 season with an option to extend for 2027.

Pineda joined the Fire in 2020 as a homegrown player after playing in college for UNC at Chapel Hill. Since then, the 25-year-old has scored five goals and tallied four assists in 90 MLS games, primarily playing as a defensive midfielder/defender.

"Mauricio is part of a core group of young players from Chicago that have demonstrated time and again what it means to represent the club and the city with pride," Fire sporting director Georg Heitz said.

"It’s the second time we have offered Mauri a new contract because we want to make sure that players who come up in our system are acknowledged, valued and compensated in a way that matches their value and contribution to the club. Mauri’s impact on the field and in the locker room makes him a very important part of this organization and we’re very pleased to extend his future with the club for several more years."

In 2020, Pineda was named as the Chicago Fire Defensive Player of the Year. Pineda has also earned caps for the U.S. with the U-18, U-20 and U-23 teams. This season, Pineda has made 11 appearances, starting four games for Chicago.

The Chicago Fire currently sit in 14th place on the Eastern Conference table with 15 points in 13 games after a rough start to the 2023 MLS season.