Chicago Fire sign Anzor Mekvabishvili in $3.4M midfield deal

Chicago Fire FC signed Georgian midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili from Romanian club Universitatea Craiova on September 1, 2026, in a transfer worth roughly $3.4 million. The 25-year-old will occupy an international roster slot on a contract through 2028-29, pending medical clearance and his P-1 visa. For a club pushing for an MLS title under Gregg Berhalter, the deal adds European championship experience without burning a Designated Player slot—a roster economics win that matters as much as the player himself.

The Fire announced the signing Tuesday, calling Mekvabishvili a proven competitor with 230-plus club appearances, four titles, and 33 Georgia national team caps. He arrives as Chicago's second major summer addition after Robert Lewandowski and gives Berhalter another central midfield option in a crowded but competitive race for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

Key Takeaways

• Chicago Fire FC acquired Anzor Mekvabishvili from Romanian Liga 1 side Universitatea Craiova via transfer on Sept. 1, 2026.
• Despite a reported fee of roughly $3.4 million (€3 million), Mekvabishvili will count as a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) player—not a Designated Player—preserving roster flexibility.
• His contract runs through the 2028-29 MLS season with a club option for 2029-30, pending P-1 visa, medical, and International Transfer Certificate completion.
• Mekvabishvili brings 15 goals and 20 assists in 231 matches, Romanian double-winning form, and Euro 2024 experience with Georgia.
• The Fire sit third in the Eastern Conference with 37 points and remain on track for a second straight playoff appearance.

Why Did Chicago Fire Sign Anzor Mekvabishvili Now?

Timing was everything. According to MIR97 Media, negotiations between the Fire and Craiova advanced over recent weeks while the Romanian club juggled summer business with UEFA qualifying matches. The transfer was only finalized after Craiova's UEFA Europa League qualifying loss to Ararat-Armenia on Thursday, which left them playing Conference League football this season rather than continuing in the Europa League.

That calendar pressure cleared the path for Chicago to close a deal Berhalter had been building toward. The MLS summer transfer window closes September 2, 2026, leaving little room for delay. Mekvabishvili traveled to Tbilisi afterward to work on his U.S. visa and will be available for selection once that process and his medical are complete.

For fans tracking how clubs allocate capital under deadline pressure, this mirrors the kind of strategic timing discussed in our Wealth Hacks & Passive Income hub—move when market conditions shift, not when hype peaks.

How Much Did the Chicago Fire Pay for Mekvabishvili?

The reported transfer fee sits at roughly $3.4 million (€3 million), making Mekvabishvili the 13th-most-expensive incoming signing in Fire history according to Transfermarkt data cited by MIR97. That places him near Robert Berić and David Accam (both €2 million) and slightly below Georgios Koutsias (€2.36 million), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (€2.5 million), and Anton Salétros (€2.7 million).

What makes the number noteworthy is not the headline alone but how Chicago structured the roster charge. Despite a fee that would qualify many imports as a Designated Player, Mekvabishvili will be classified as a TAM player. His salary fits within Targeted Allocation Money parameters, meaning the Fire keep their third DP slot open for future moves.

Berhalter had publicly expressed interest in signing "multiple" pieces this transfer window as Chicago pushes for an MLS title. After ex-Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka finalized a move to Aston Villa instead of Chicago, the Fire pivoted to Mekvabishvili—a less globally recognized name but a more budget-efficient fit.

What Does Mekvabishvili Bring to the Chicago Fire Midfield?

Mekvabishvili, 25, is a central midfielder who can operate in a holding role or as a box-to-box player. Chicago plans to deploy him primarily as a No. 8, given existing depth in defensive midfield. Berhalter now has options including Djé D'Avilla, Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel Jr., David Poreba, Robin Lod, and the expected return of André Franco.

His résumé backs the investment. Per the club's official announcement, Mekvabishvili has more than 230 appearances across European competitions and four championship titles. With Universitatea Craiova he won the 2025-26 Romanian league and cup double and the 2026-27 Romanian Super Cup. He also claimed the 2020-21 Georgian SuperCup with Dinamo Tbilisi, where his professional career began in 2019.

OneFootball reports 15 goals and 20 assists across 231 matches for Craiova and Dinamo Tbilisi combined. Internationally, his 33 Georgia caps include work at UEFA Euro 2024, where he was a key starter. Berhalter highlighted that Mekvabishvili was named Player of the Year on a championship-winning team—a signal of consistency and leadership Chicago believes can elevate the squad's midfield level.

"We're excited to add a player of Anzor's pedigree to the Club," Berhalter said in the official club release. "He is a proven competitor whose experience at both the international level and in European competition will be a valuable asset to our group."

Where Does This Leave the Chicago Fire in the 2026 MLS Season?

Chicago enters the stretch run third in the Eastern Conference with 37 points and remains on track for a second consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs trip, per OneFootball. The Lewandowski signing grabbed global headlines; Mekvabishvili addresses the central midfield depth Berhalter identified as a priority after losing Hugo Cuypers to CF Monterrey in a reported $7.5 million deal earlier in the window.

The Fire recently extended their MLS unbeaten streak to five matches with a 2-2 draw against Seattle Sounders FC on August 29. Adding a TAM-level international midfielder before the window closes gives Berhalter rotation options without the long-term salary cap hit of a third Designated Player.

Clubs can still sign free agents until the MLS roster freeze on October 9, but any additional transfers must be completed before the September 2 deadline. Mekvabishvili will occupy one of Chicago's international roster slots once his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate are approved.

Who Is Anzor Mekvabishvili?

Born June 5, 2001, in Tiflis, Georgia, Mekvabishvili stands 5 feet 9 inches and weighs 150 pounds. He progressed through Georgia's youth national teams from U-16 through U-21 before earning senior caps in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, European qualifiers, UEFA Nations League, and friendlies.

After breaking through at Dinamo Tbilisi in the Erovnuli Liga—and featuring in UEFA Champions League and Conference League qualifying—he moved to Romania in 2024. His Craiova tenure peaked with the 2025-26 domestic double and Player of the Year recognition before Chicago came calling.

Pronunciation guide from the club: AN-zohr meck-vah-bish-VIL-ee. For Fire supporters, that name may soon be as familiar as the transfer math that brought him to Soldier Field.