Topics: MLS, Chicago Fire, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Transfer
The former Liverpool and Atlético de Madrid player joins the MLS in an undisclosed deal.

Although Sinama-Pongolle has been training with Chicago since August 21, the club just confirmed his signing on Tuesday. The deal terms were not disclosed due to Club and MLS policy.

The French forward started his professional career in his home country playing for Le Havre AC but he was signed at the age of 16 by English Premier League club Liverpool. At the beginning, he didn’t have a successful spell wit the ‘Reds’ and he had to go back to France to play for his former club on loan for two seasons. In 2003 he returned to Merseyside and was part of the glorious 2005 Champions League campaign for Liverpool. 

After that, he moved to Spain to play for Recreativo, scoring 22 goals in 68 appearances. In 2008 he joined Atlético de Madrid and made 40 appearances with the club before joining Portuguese side Sporting Clube in 2010. A season-long loan with Zaragoza followed and then another one with Saint-Étienne before moving to Russia. 

In 2012, the 29-year-joined Russian Premier League side FC Rostov, where he made only 18 appearances during his two-year spell due to a knee injury. 

Regarding his time in Russia, the player commented:

“In Europe you have a break at the end of the season, in Russia you have a break in the middle of the season. When you have a long injury, you can’t come back. Everything was not playing to my benefit.”

After declaring himself ready for action, Sinama-Pongolle revealed his excitement for the challenge ahead. 

“Physically I’m ready. What’s key when I came here was to arrive fit. To arrive and not be able to show straight away would have been a risk for me and Frank wouldn’t have contemplated me. We need players now to be able to give to help the team.”

“I love my job and so of course I want to play. I hope all the administrative papers go quickly. When they do I’m ready to go.”

Via Twitter, the club welcomed Sinama-Pongolle