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CHICAGO -- Chris Rolfe is returning to Major League Soccer and the Chicago Fire.

The 29-year-old American forward rejoined the Fire on Monday when he left Denmark's Aalborg after three seasons.

Rolfe scored 40 goals in 149 games with the Fire in all competitions from 2005-09. He had six goals in 32 matches over three seasons with Aalborg.

Rolfe has made 10 appearances with the U.S. national team.

The Chicago Fire waived defender Pari Pantazopoulos, the 2011 Open Tryout winner, the club announced on Sunday.

Pantazopoulos appeared in one game for the Fire last year, logging 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 28.

CHICAGO -- Arne Friedrich, a veteran of the German team at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, has signed with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire.

The 32-year-old defender made 82 appearances for Germany, the last in a European Championship qualifier in March when he scored an own-goal in a 2-1 win at Austria. He also played at the 2004 and 2008 Euros and set a German record for most games without a goal before scoring. He got his goal in his 77th match, in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal win over Argentina.

A central defender and right back, Friedrich signed with Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga in 2010 but missed the first half of the 2010-11 season due to a slipped disk. He had another slipped disk in June.

The Chicago Fire signed MLS SuperDraft pick Hunter Jumper, the team announced on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Hunter brings strength, smarts and athleticism to the Fire,” coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. “Since seeing him at January’s combine and through preseason, he’s shown the ability to transition his game to the next level and adds depth to our backline heading into the 2012 MLS season.”

Jumper, 23, was selected 28th overall by the Fire in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft following a standout four-year career at the University of Virginia from 2008-11.

The Chicago Fire traded the rights to defender Wilman Conde to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for allocation money.

Conde and the Red Bulls agreed to terms on a contract and he will join the team pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.

“The club is pleased with the talent we’ve assembled,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. “We reviewed the situation and wanted to support Wilman’s return to MLS. The allocation money we received in return will help us continue to build our team.”

Conde, who joined the Fire in 2007, had four goals and four assists in 77 matches before signing with Mexican side Club Atlas on a free transfer in January 2011.

Having protected Conde during the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, the Fire held the MLS right of first refusal on him.

The Chicago Fire signed 28-year-old Zimbabwean striker Kheli Dube on Wednesday.

Dube, the eighth overall selection by the New England Revolution in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, was the Fire's only pick in the MLS Re-Entry Process

“Kheli has been an offensive threat since he came into the league,” said Fire coach Frank Klopas. “He’s a gritty, hard-working forward that plays for the badge. Since joining us in preseason Kheli has shown his desire to be part of our club.”

Dube had four goals and four assists and helped the Revs to the 2008 SuperLiga title. He was named a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year.

Dube split his collegiate career between Lindsey Wilson College (2004-05) and Coastal Carolina University (2006-07), where he was named 2007 Big South Player of the Year.

The Chicago Fire announced Wednesday it had re-signed midfielder Pavel Pardo.

Pardo played in 14 matches after joining the Fire in July. He had one goal and five assists while helping the Fire to the second best regular season finish in club history at 7-2-1.

“Pavel helped kick-start our turnaround at the end of last season,” said Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “He provides tremendous experience for us in the middle of the park, serves as a great example for our younger players and plays for the badge every time he steps on the field.”

Pardo began his career with hometown Mexican Primera side Club Atlas, where he appeared in 156 matches and recorded seven goals from 1993-98. Following a brief stint with UAG Tecos, Pardo joined Mexican giants Club America for the first of two career stints in 1999. It was with las Aguilas that Pardo made his mark, appearing in 224 matches, scoring 24 goals from 1999-2006 while helping the club to the 2002 Verano and 2005 Clausura championships as well as the 2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

His play for America propelled him to Europe, signing with German side Vfb Stuttgart in 2006. While with Die Roten, Pardo appeared in 71 matches, scoring four times while helping the Reds to the 2006-07 Bundesliga title, the club’s first since 1992. He returned to Club America following the 2009 Bundesliga season, going on to play in another 86 matches for las Aguilas through the 2011 Mexican Clausura.

The Chicago Fire selected Louisville defender Austin Berry with the ninth pick in the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.

In his senior season, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Berry was named a NSCAA Third Team All-American, Soccer America Second Team MVP and Big East Conference First Team. A member of the 2010 Chicago Fire Premier team, Berry signed a deal with MLS prior to the draft.

“Austin is a menacing defender who will be a fantastic addition to the Chicago Fire Soccer Club,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. “His strength in the back, ability in the air and the danger he provides going forward will be a great asset to us heading into the 2012 MLS season.”

Berry, a 23-year-old native of Cincinnati, appeared in 95 matches, starting 87, in his time with the Cardinals, with 11 goals and five assists.

The Chicago Fire announced Monday the signing of Colombian midfielder Rafael Robayo from Club Deportivo Los Millionarios.

Robayo, 27, played for Colombian Liga Postobón and will be added to the Fire's roster as an international upon the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa.

"Rafael Robayo has an excellent work rate, good defensive energy and will provide support on both sides of the ball,” Fire coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. "Rafael is a sizable player who can get in and create around the box. He will join our core group in preseason camp as we continue to build toward the 2012 campaign."

The Fire open the regular season on the road against the expansion Montreal Impact on March 17.

The Chicago Fire announced on Thursday that Salvadoran defender Deris Umanzor signed with the team.

Umanzor spent the past five seasons with Club Deportivo Aguila in El Salvador, and was a regular starter for El Salvador's national team when Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos headed the squad from 2007 to 2009.

"We are excited to have Deris Umanzor join the Chicago Fire," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said in a statement. "Umanzor will provide depth in the Fire defense. He brings additional experience to our back line."

As of Thursday afternoon, Umanzor will not be available for Saturday's home opener, when Chicago hosts the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. at Toyota Park in Bridgeview. The team is awaiting his International Transfer Certificate.

Sueno heads to Montrose Park: Sueno MLS, a national soccer player search, is coming to Chicago's Montrose Park, 600 W. Montrose Ave., on Saturday and Sunday. Pre-registration is full, but interested players can still sign up in person to be included on a walk-up list, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. Sueno MLS participants must be between the ages of 14 and 18. There is no cost to participate. For more information, visit www.SuenoMLS.com. Last year's Sueno MLS winner was midfielder Alberto Lopez of Aurora, Ill.

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Salvadoran defender Deris Umanzor's name has been linked to the Chicago Fire for the past month or so. Now that Umanzor is training with the team this week, he is one step away from signing with Chicago.

A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPNChicago.com that the Fire are simply waiting for Umanzor's paperwork to clear with the league before he is officially named to the team. He trained with the Fire during the preseason.

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The Chicago Fire announced Friday that they have signed former Fulham forward Collins John. The 24-year-old former Fulham striker reunites with Brian McBride, who was his teammate at Fulham. John's best season for the Premier League squad was an 11-goal campaign in 2004-05.

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