Chicago Fire FC, Minnesota United swap Raheem Edwards, Wyatt Omsberg

Raheem Edwards dribbles - Chicago Fire

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade


Minnesota United have acquired midfielder/defender Raheem Edwards from Chicago Fire FC in exchange for defender Wyatt Omsberg, the clubs announced Tuesday. 


Edwards, 24, has made 53 MLS appearances after making his debut in 2016 with Toronto FC. He then joined the Montreal Impact before spending the last two seasons with the Fire, where the Canadian made 17 appearances as he battled injuries.


ā€œWe are adding another player with quality, top-rate work ethic and someone who is an experienced and versatile athlete,ā€ Loons head coach Adrian Heath said in a club statement. ā€œAs we looked at our roster this offseason we knew we needed to add players on the left of the pitch, and in particular at left-back. Raheem will be critical throughout the middle and end of our season with so many matches; Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, players on international duty, as well as the Olympics. He knows the league well and he knows how to win, we saw that from him in his time in Toronto.ā€


Omsberg, 24, was selected No. 15 overall in the 2018 SuperDraft by the Loons and made seven appearances, all in 2018. He made 15 appearances on loan with Forward Madison in 2019. 


ā€œWyatt is a strong and imposing defender who will provide competition at the center back position,ā€ Fire head coach Raphael Wicky said. ā€œI am looking forward to working with him and welcoming him to the team.ā€ 


The move boosts Chicago's options in central defense, as Omsberg joins the likes of Francisco Calvo, Johan Kappelhof and others. As for Minnesota, Edwards gives the club a depth option at left back in a versatile player that can play up and down the left flank.