The forward tallied eight goals in the final four matches of the season, wrapping up the Golden Boot with a league-leading 20 goals in 2025
CHICAGO (Oct. 10, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC II and MLS NEXT Pro today announced that forward Jason Shokalook was named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month for the month of September. The announcement followed a final month of the regular season that saw Shokalook win the league’s Golden Boot award for a league-leading 20 goals in 2025.
“I’m super grateful to the team and the coaching staff for being there for me and pushing me and am definitely grateful to receive this award,” said Shokalook. “Throughout the year, I’ve been trying to improve a little bit every day and am grateful that effort has built up into receiving the last monthly award of the regular season. Hopefully it gives the team some positive momentum going into the playoffs, which is our main focus.”
Shokalook, 22, tallied six goals in three matches in September, along with another two in the final match of 2025 on Oct. 5 at Columbus Crew 2. In addition to earning the Golden Boot with 20 goals, his final tally helped Chicago finish the season with a league-best 69 goals, only one goal fewer than the record 70 scored by Colorado Rapids 2 in 2023.
This is the second league award of the season for Shokalook, who was previously named MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 20 for a career-high four goals and an assist in a record-breaking 9-2 victory over first-place New York Red Bulls II that saw Chicago post the largest goal total and margin of victory in a single match in team history. With 11 combined goals, the match featured the greatest number of goals ever recorded in an MLS NEXT Pro 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.
Chicago Fire FC II will open the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs with a trip to Foxborough, Mass. to face New England Revolution II on Sunday, Oct. 19. Chicago’s third postseason appearance in a row will kick off at 5 p.m. in Gillette Stadium and can be watched on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
