Fire, M Gaston Gimenez agree to terminate contract

Field Level Media|published: 12/24/2024, 10:22pm EST

Sep 21, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Chicago Fire FC midfielder Gaston Gimenez (30) controls the ball against CF Montreal midfielder Nathan-Dylan Saliba (19) during the second half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Chicago Fire and midfielder Gaston Gimenez, who played for the club for the past five years, reached an agreement to terminate his contract on Tuesday.

Gimenez, 33, joined the Fire in 2020 as a designated player after playing nearly a decade in his native Argentina.

He had one goal and three assists in 29 appearances (18 starts) for Chicago this past season. In 125 career matches with the club (104 starts), Gimenez contributed four goals and 11 assists.

The Fire are under new direction after hiring former U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter to be their head coach and director of football.

"We thank Gaston for his contributions to the Fire and wish him and his family well for the future," Berhalter said in a statement. "This move was made to allow Gaston to pursue a new challenge while providing the club with greater roster flexibility as we look to strengthen the squad for the 2025 season."

Gimenez is of Paraguayan descent and switched sporting nationalities from Argentina to Paraguay in 2020.

--Field Level Media