The Chicago Fire are adding from within to deal with their current lack of depth in the midfield positions. The Fire traded $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) to the New York Red Bulls for Sam Williams’ Homegrown Player Rights and subsequently signed the midfielder to an MLS Homegrown Contract through the 2025 season with club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Chicago will send up to another $75,000 in General Allocation Money to the New York Red Bulls if Williams hits certain performance-based metrics. Williams signed with Chicago Fire II in the offseason after previously being with the New York Red Bulls Academy. The Tenafly, New Jersey native spent the last two seasons playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina before signing his MLS Next Pro contract in the offseason. He spent most of the preseason with the Fire’s first team and traveled on both of their trips before the MLS season began. The Fire’s first team signed Williams to short-term agreements ahead of each of their three MLS contests in 2025 as he made his two allotted appearances against D.C. United and FC Dallas, including a start against D.C. United at Soldier Field. Williams told On Tap Sports Net last month that he was ready “to seize the opportunity in professional soccer” ahead of his MLS debut and he’s already managed to earn an MLS contract in the time since. What’s On Tap Next? The Fire will be in Canada next on March 15 to face off against Toronto FC. The match is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.