Reynolds signs Homegrown deal with Chicago

by Travis Clark

January 29, 2019

Chicago Fire Academy left back Andre Reynolds won't make it to college after all.

The up-and-coming defender signed a Homegrown contract with the Fire last week, becoming the 12th academy signee in franchise history.

"I'm extremely excited and blessed to be able to play for the Chicago Fire," Reynolds said in a release. "Having been a fan for years and coming up through the Fire's youth system, it has always been a dream of mine to represent the crest on a professional level. I am ready to continue giving everything I have for this Club and look forward to playing alongside a great group of guys."

NEWS | The Club has signed @ChiFireAcademy product Andre Reynolds II. Welcome, Andre! 📝

More: https://t.co/2r7BnDMMoT #cf97 pic.twitter.com/lTgMdNOcmh
— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) January 25, 2019

A four-year member of the Fire Academy, Reynolds made 89 appearances in the Development Academy across various age groups. The left back, ranked as the No. 57-ranked player in the 2019 Boys IMG Academy Top 150, had been committed to Brown for the fall. He was named to the U.S. Under-19 Men's National Team for the Florida training camp earlier in January.

"We were monitoring Andre very closely as he played with our youth squads," head coach Veljko Paunovic said in a release. "He is a very talented player. He also brings depth, competition and quality to our roster. We are very excited to work with him and help him reach his potential."

Reynolds joins defender Grant Lillard and midfielders Jeremiah Gutjahr and Djordje Mihailovic as active Homegrown Players on the Fire's 2019 roster.