Aleksandar Katai Officially Signs With Fire

It’s official: #BuyKatai has become #BoughtKatai.

The Chicago Fire announced earlier today that they had signed Serbian forward Aleksandar Katai to a permanent deal.

Katai’s new deal runs through the 2019 season with a club option for 2020. The transfer fee paid to Deportivo Alavés has not been disclosed. Guillermo River, Fire beat writer for The Athletic, is reporting that the deal has been structured so that Katai will remain a TAM player this year and then be upgraded to a DP next season.

Despite a slow start to the season, Katai has become far and away the most important member of the squad this season. With eight goals and three assists in 18 MLS appearances, Katai has brought a sharpness and dynamism to the Fire’s attack that has helped the Men In Red stay in the playoff race. Signing him to a permanent deal is unmistakably the right call.

With Katai’s situation resolved for the better, the Fire can now focus on other needs this transfer window. If the club can secure quality reinforcements in defense and midfield, this team might be able to make a credible run at the postseason after all.