Back in January the Chicago Fire announced that they were renewing their affiliation agreement with the Tulsa Roughnecks. The USL Western Conference side served as a proving ground for no less than six Fire players in 2017.
When announcing the renewed deal, Fire president Nelson Rodriguez described their affiliation in 2017 as “mutually productive” and said he intended to “grow [their] relationship.” The arrangement has so far done well enough to keep depth signings on the squad fresh and ready to return to Bridgeview should injury befall a senior first team player. With Tulsa eager to establish themselves as playoff contenders, they’ll be looking to get their borrowed MLS players in fighting shape and ready to compete for minutes— with the hope at Toyota Park that when they’re eventually called home, they’ll return with sharpened skills and some meaningful experience.