Chicago Fire sign winger Maren Haile-Selassie on loan from FC Lugano | OneFootball

The Chicago Fire have acquired winger Maren Haile-Selassie on loan from Swiss side FC Lugano.

Haile-Selassie's has signed a one-year deal keeping him at the club through the 2023 MLS season, with Chicago holding the option on a permanent transfer. The 23-year-old will occupy an international roster slot.

“We are pleased to welcome Maren to the Fire and look forward to integrating him into the group,” Fire sporting director Georg Heitz said in a club press release.

“We have watched his development during the past year at FC Lugano and believe that he will be a great fit in Chicago and provide us pace on the wings, which is a priority for us this offseason.”

This marks the second move between the Fire and FC Lugano this week after defender Jhon Espinoza moved to the Swiss club. Earlier this year, winger Igancio Aliseda made the same move.

The activity between the two clubs is unsurprising given both are owned by Joe Mansueto.

Haile-Selassie has 40 appearances under his belt for FC Lugano across all competitions, scoring seven goals and notching five assists. A former Swiss youth international, Haile-Selassie joined Lugano from Neuchâtel Xamax in December 2021 after coming through the FC Zurich youth system.

The Fire will now continue to plan for their second full season under head coach Ezra Hendrickson, who is aiming to guide the club back into the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017.