Chicago Fire FC have made another major splash this transfer window by adding Mexican starlet Jairo Torres to the mix as a Young Designated Player.
Torres comes to the Fire from Atlas in Liga MX, where he helped them capture their first league title in more than 70 years in the most recent edition of the Apertura. Torres, just 21, has been one of the brightest young players in Mexico, and will come to Chicago on May 1 with more than 108 appearances in Mexico across all competitions.
The Fire’s 2022 roster - particularly the attack - is starting to shape up as one of the most threatening in the Eastern Conference.
Torres adds a tremendous amount of pace, quality, and hunger. One of the biggest things that stands out to me about him is his delivery in the final third. He likes to drive toward the bi-line and whip in great service which, our big Polish No. 9 Kacper Przybyłko is going to love. He delivers the ball with authority and accuracy. Przybyłko is a striker who needs delivery, and Torres will have an extremely large and lethal target to pick out. This could be a Lakefront love story in the making.
The other big part of Torres’ game is his flat-out pace. He can fly. Since Przemysław Frankowski departed the Fire, the Club has been missing someone with true after-burners that the defense has to respect. This means more space for Xherdan Shaqiri. That is the last guy (possibly in all of MLS) that you want to give space. Oppositions will have to make a decision - condense the field and take away time and space for Shaqiri while risking getting beat over the top by Torres, or sag off and let “Shaq” carve you up. Pick your poison.
The acquisition of Torres is not just a young star to galvanize the large Mexican population that resides in Chicago. It is potentially a piece to the puzzle that can make the Fire an absolute nightmare to defend.
This offseason has been about carefully finding players that have a particular set of skills (Liam Neeson voice) that fit into Ezra Hendrickson’s master plan. Torres adds yet another dimension to the Fire, and will electrify Soldier Field when he arrives.
An attacking front that consists of Przybyłko, Shaqiri, Torres, and the likes of Brian Gutierrez, Jhon Durán, Fabian Herbers etc. out on the other wing is a frightening prospect.
Sporting Director Georg Heitz and Technical Director Sebastian Pelzer have swung for the fences on these offseason signings and have, at least on paper, connected on all of them. Now it’s a matter of the coaching staff bringing it all together. Torres could be one of the final additions to the group that will really make the Fire a playoff team.
Welcome, Jairo! VAMOS!!!!
