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About that 2020 Mauricio Pineda’s been having? It just got better.
Chicago Fire FC announced today the club is exercising its 2021 contract option on Pineda.
Pineda, 22, is now under contract with Chicago through the 2021 season, with club options for 2022 and 2023.
“Mauricio quickly impressed our staff at the beginning of the season and has continued to prove himself each day during an unusual first professional season,” Fire Sporting Director Georg Heitz said in a news release. “We’re always proud to see one of our Homegrown Players succeed with the first team, and Mauricio has shown that he is capable of competing at a very high level. We are confident that he will continue to work hard and build on his strong start.”
Pineda had a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders in the MLS is Back Tournament, but the club had actually agreed to pick up Pineda’s option two weeks ago, Hot Time is told. The technical staff has been high on Pineda all season, and Head Coach Raphael Wicky singled out Pineda as one of the best players since the team began training again after the coronavirus hiatus.
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The Fire originally signed Pineda to a Homegrown deal back in January. Pineda is from Bolingbrook, and helped the Fire Academy win a National Championship back in 2015. He spent the next four years at the University of North Carolina, earning all-ACC honors all four years.