Fabian Herbers signs a new contract with the Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire FC announced today that midfielder Fabian Herbers has signed a new contract with the team that will keep him in Chicago through the 2023 season, with a club option for 2024.

Herbers has become a favorite of new Fire head coach Raphael Wicky, who raved about the German on a conference call today.

“He has become an important player for our team,” Wicky said. “He can play multiple offensive positions—as an eight, as a ten, he can be wide coming inside, he’s a guy you can always count on.”

Herbers has played in all five matches for the Fire this season, starting four of them. In those games, he’s played as a central midfielder, an attacking central midfielder, and a winger. He’s drawn criticism from some Fire fans online for not being creative enough in the attack, which Wicky dismissed.

“He’s a player who creates a lot through his runs,” Wicky said. “He works hard for the team, brings a good intensity into the games, so there’s a lot of positives with Fabi, and I’m really excited that we were able to keep him here.”

Herbers is 26. He joined the Fire from the Philadelphia Union on Dec. 9, 2018. Prior to that, the Ahaus, Germany native played three seasons at Creighton University.