CHICAGO (Oct. 29, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC II and MLS NEXT Pro today announced that Chicago Fire II forward Jason Shokalook was named as a finalist for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Most Valuable Player Award.
Regular season awards were voted on by the Head Coaches and Chief Soccer Officers at MLS NEXT Pro Clubs as well as League content and broadcast teams. North Texas SC forward Sam Sarver was named MLS NEXT Pro MVP, while New England Revolution II’s Marcos Dias was also a finalist for the award.
Earlier this year, Shokalook was named the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot winner after scoring 20 goals in 22 matches. This came one year after David Poreba’s 18 goals gave him the 2024 Golden Boot. Fire II thus became the first MLS NEXT Pro club to feature two Golden Boot winners in back-to-back years.
Shokalook was named the MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 20 following a four-goal display in a 9-2 victory against New York Red Bulls II. He was later named Player of the Month for the month of September. Shokalook made his Major League Soccer debut in a 7-1 victory against D.C. United on June 7 at Audi Field, registering his first MLS assist in the first minute of stoppage time to help close out the match.
The Erie, Pa. native originally joined Chicago Fire II in February 2024 after being selected by the Fire with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Shokalook enjoyed a four-year career at the University of Akron, being voted the 2023 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year after making 17 appearances and leading the team in goals (14) and assists (five). Over the course of his career in northeast Ohio, the young forward played in 59 matches (41 starts) and scored 26 goals and 17 assists during his tenure with Akron.
