The Chicago Fire acquired veteran midfielder Anton Saletros from Swedish top-flight side AIK on Friday.
Later Friday, the club announced another midfielder acquisition, after it landed Andre Franco on a permanent transfer from FC Porto.
Saletros, a 29-year-old Swede, tallied 19 goals and 23 assists in 225 matches with the Stockholm-based club.
Saletros has more than 350 career professional appearances including stops in Norway, Russia and France.
“We’re excited to welcome Anton to the Chicago Fire. His experience across both international and league play will have an immediate impact on our roster as we continue to push forward,” director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter said in a news release. “Anton brings a winning mentality and competitive edge — qualities that will elevate our team next season.”
Saletros is under contract with Chicago through 2028. Internationally, Saletros has collected one goal in 19 appearances for the Swedish national team.
Franco played for Chicago on loan from Porto this summer, recording four assists in six matches (five starts). He tore his ACL on Sept. 30 during a 5-3 win over Inter Miami.
Franco helped Portuguese giants Porto win the 2023 and 2024 Portuguese Cups and the 2025 Portuguese Super Cup. He scored five goals for the club across all competitions since 2022.
His deal with the Fire runs through June 30, 2028, with a club option for the remainder of the 2028 season.
“We are thrilled to have Andre as part of the Chicago Fire on a permanent basis. His experience, character, and quality have already made a real impact on our team,” Berhalter said in a statement. “We look forward to supporting him throughout his recovery and seeing him return stronger than ever.”
–Field Level Media
