This unknown 21-year-old is now Chicago Fire’s biggest gamble | OneFootball

Dje D'Avilla's signing with Chicago Fire FC is no ordinary deal in MLS wheeling and dealing. The Ivory Coast midfielder, 21, arrives in the United States on a contract that runs through 2028 with the charge to assist in the construction of a team struggling to excavate its way back to competitiveness. D'Avilla is arriving on loan from União de Leiria, a second-division Portuguese club, in the midst of a rebuilding effort under Gregg Berhalter.

A natural talent with a global edge

Dje D'Avilla is only 21, yet already he has traveled from three nations. He grew up playing the game as a young African soccer player, worked temporarily in the United Arab Emirates, and made it to Portugal, a place that has become home favorite for players seeking to escape their bubbles back home and adapt to a higher-level, faster-paced game. He played more than 50 games for UD Leiria, a low-key but ideal club for players trying to stand out in challenging, physical environments.

This season already showed his progress, with 26 games under his belt in all competitions, including the Taça de Portugal, and a mature on-field presence, even in a team searching for stability. D'Avilla comes through the MLS U22 Initiative, a program whereby clubs are able to splurge on youngsters without exceeding the league's salary cap.

And that is where the subtle pressure begins for players like him who cross the Atlantic on multi-year deals to 2028, with an option for 2029 by the club. There is little leeway for error, and little time to settle. Especially not on a team trying to break a years-long dry spell and back into the MLS Cup Playoffs, something it has not done since 2017.

A more international team still finding its identity

With D'Avilla and right back Leonardo Barroso, acquired from Sporting CP B, the Fire is starting to come together with a roster that is more European in flavor.

That has nothing to do with passport fetishism, it's about introducing players who have played in more tactically demanding environments and know how to shoulder the weight of a collective system. That is not a luxury, that is a real need for a team that, over the past few years, has transitioned from superficial initiatives to bets that didn't pay back. Today, there are indications of a long-term strategy, and of a roster more consistent. A risk that could pay off in a huge way Signing D'Avilla was no shot in the dark.

The season is already underway, the fans are demanding answers, and patience for slow rebuilds is wearing thin.

Berhalter comes with real credentials and experience as a tactician. He requires players who can assist in bringing his ideas to life, and D'Avilla is one. Even at just 21, he's got real competition experience under his belt, something that doesn't always show up on stat sheets. And he's arriving with the mindset of a man who still has a lot to prove.