Fire Complete Loan Deal For Defender Krol

The Chicago Fire have announced the acquisition of defender Krzysztof Krol (second from right) on loan from Polish club Jagiellonia Bialystok. He will be added to the Fire’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

“Krzysztof is a solid defender who will make an immediate impact on the team with his style of play,” said Fire technical director Frank Klopas. “We are very excited to have him join the club’s roster and have the kind of impact on the Fire that he did with Jagiellonia.”

Krol, 22, started his career playing for a handful of clubs in Poland before joining Real Madrid’s third team in 2007. He was briefly promoted to Real Madrid Castilla (the club’s second team), but did not make any appearances, leading him to return to Poland, this time on a three-year deal with Jagiellonia Bialystok.

“I’m excited to be joining a great club like the Chicago Fire and am looking forward to meeting my new teammates, the Chicago Fire staff and all the great fans of the Chicago Fire,” said Krol. “I would also like to thank Jagiellonia Bialystok, the fans and my teammates for the opportunities given to me and all the great soccer moments we shared in the last couple of years. All of this would not be possible if it weren’t for the help and foresight of the Chicago Fire, Frank Klopas, Czarek Kulesza of Jagiellonia Bialystok, Tomasz Frankowski and my agent John Zapa.”

The addition of Krol should help fill the hole in the Fire defense that was created earlier this month when reliable defender Gonzalo Segares left the club to sign with Cypriot club Apollon Limassol FC.