CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Fire FC is dealing with yet another coaching change—hoping that a soccer-lifer with ties to the area can spark a turnaround with the flickering franchise.

It’s been a brutal era for Chicago Fire fans. They last qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs in 2017 and finished dead last in the Eastern Conference last season.

The Niles product, who drew interest from clubs in top European leagues, has immense potential, and the Fire have a plan for him to succeed.

Signing Chicago Fire FC have acquired midfielder Rominigue Kouamé on loan from LaLiga2 side Cádiz CF, the club announced Friday.

Chicago Fire FC announced that it had signed 25-year-old center-back Sam Rogers from Norwegian Lillestrøm SK. The defender has signed a deal through 2026 and contains options to extend his deal until 2028. The defender comes in at a critical moment in the backline with the team reorganizing under the helm of Gregg Berhalter.

In that ’09 campaign, the Fire recorded a league-best 6-3-6 away record. Since then, they have gone 41-143-63 on the highway, a brutal .294 winning percentage.

Jonathan Bamba, a member of Ivory Coast’s team that won last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, will be a designated player for the Chicago Fire.

The Chicago Fire acquired midfielder Rominigue Kouame on loan Friday from Spanish LaLiga2 side Cadiz CF for the 2025 season with an option to purchase. Kouame, 28, will fill an international position on the roster. Contract terms were not announced.

The Al Hilal forward is in talks with the Chicago Fire over a blockbuster transfer, according to a report from Foot Mercato. The move would be a stunner on multiple levels, not least of which is the 32-year-old has been widely speculated to be interested in joining Inter Miami.

Chicago Fire FC is engaged in “preliminary negotiations” with Brazil soccer legend Neymar, according to multiple reports.

The Chicago Fire have held discussions to sign Brazilian star Neymar, according to multiple sources who have been briefed on the talks, but a deal to bring the former Barcelona and PSG forward to the United States remains unlikely.

The Chicago Fire will sign Ivory Coast international winger Jonathan Bamba from Celta Vigo, sources tell GIVEMESPORT.