CHICAGO (Oct. 2, 2020) – Chicago Fire FC announced today that the Club has exercised the 2021 contract option on team captain and defender Francisco Calvo. He is under contract with the Fire through the 2021 season with a Club option for the 2022 campaign.
“Francisco has been a very important leader in our locker room,” said Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz. “He truly cares about his teammates and always represents this Club with a tremendous amount of pride. We look forward to having him return as a key part of our squad in 2021.”
Calvo, 28, originally joined the Fire in a trade with Minnesota United FC on May 3, 2019. Overall, he has made 37 appearances (35 starts) for the Fire in league play, tallying three goals and three assists. Since making his first appearance for the Club on May 4, 2019, Calvo has helped lead the Fire to the third-most shutouts (12) in MLS. Only Real Salt Lake (16) and Atlanta United (15) have recorded more shutouts during that stretch.
The Costa Rican international was named team captain prior to the start of the 2020 campaign. Anchoring the Fire’s defense, Calvo currently leads all MLS players in interceptions (39). Additionally, the central defender leads the team in minutes played (1,245) and is just one of three players to start in all 14 of Chicago’s matches in 2020.
Since beginning his professional career in 2011, Calvo has made 294 appearances (281 starts) across all competitions. His honors include being named to the 2018 MLS All-Star Team and the 2018 Concacaf Best XI. At the international level, Calvo has earned 50 caps for Costa Rica, including two appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC exercises the 2021 contract option on defender Francisco Calvo.
