ESPN

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 got a first look at their talent on Sunday, opening the preseason with a 0-0 draw against D.C. United at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Fire head coach Frank Klopas played 33 of the 36 players on the club's preseason roster, including 10 returning players.

Supplemental draft pick Carl Woszczynski started in goal in the first of nine preseason matches.

The Fire threatened in the 60th minute when new forward Kheli Dube laid the ball off for Lucky Mkosana. The second-round draft pick drilled a shot on goal, but D.C. United goalkeeper Joe Willis made the save.

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.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Fire has a new shirt sponsor, agreeing to a multi-year deal with the Quaker Oats Co.

Quaker's name and logo will be on the front of both the Fire's home and away jerseys in a deal that Crain's Chicago Business reported could be worth up to $8 million over three years. The Major League Soccer team had been without a shirt sponsor since Best Buy declined to renew its deal following the 2010 season.

As part of the deal, Quaker and the Fire will team up on a programs designed to encourage healthy eating and staying active. Quaker also will sponsor the Chicago Fire Juniors, the team's player development program, and there will be a "Quaker Corner" seating area at Toyota Park, the Fire stadium in suburban Bridgeview.

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.

An offseason of turnover continued for the Chicago Fire on Wednesday with the team's announcement that it had signed Uruguayan striker Federico Puppo.

“Federico Puppo is a player we’ve kept an eye for the past few seasons,” said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “He is a smart forward who moves well off the ball and finishes in front of the goal. His addition helps us to strengthen our attacking core. We are excited to get all of these guys into camp and begin putting in the work on the field.”

Puppo, 25, will join the Fire from the Primera División Uruguaya club Danubio F.C. He scored two goals in ten matches with Danubio.

Puppo was a member of the Uruguay team that played in the 2011 Pan American Games held in Guadalajara. He scored a goal in appearances in that tournament.

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.

CHICAGO -- Mike Matkovich and Leo Percovich will return to the Chicago Fire as assistant coaches for the 2012 season, the team announced on Friday. The two full-time assistant coaches will serve under Frank Klopas, who was named head coach on Nov. 3.

Matkovich, 49, previously served as a Fire assistant coach from 2009-10, but spent 2011 as the director of coaching for the Chicago Fire Juniors-South and as an assistant coach for the team’s Academy sides. Hailing from Frankfort, Ill., Matkovich’s first job with the Fire was as head coach of the Chicago Fire PDL from 2002-06. He held assistant coaching positions with Toronto FC in 2007 and with Percovich at Chivas USA in 2008.

For Percovich, 43, this will be his second season as an assistant coach with the Fire.

A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Percovich is a former Copa Libertadores and Uruguayan First Division champion who joined Toronto FC as an assistant coach in 2009, after serving as a goalkeeper coach with the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA.

Klopas, the team’s first technical director from 2008-2011, was appointed interim head coach in late May after a 1-4-6 start led to the firing of coach Carlos de los Cobos. The Fire finished the season 8-5-10 under Klopas, narrowly missing the playoffs.

The Fire open the season Mar. 17 in Montreal and will host the Philadelphia Union at Toyota Park in their home opener on Mar. 24.

The Chicago Fire will appear on national television 13 times during the 2012 season which opens March 17 in the home opener for the expansion Montreal Impact.

This will mark the longest Major League Soccer season with the final played on Dec. 1. The season begins five days earlier than in 2011. Last year's final was Nov. 20.

With the expansion Impact giving the league 19 teams, MLS is switching to an unbalanced schedule while keeping the regular season at 34 games per team.

The Fire's home opener is March 24 at Toyota Park against the Philadelphia Union.

The Fire will appear on national broadcast partners NBC, NBC Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and Galavision.

Just seven MLS games conflict with FIFA fixture dates, when many star players are away with national teams: Chicago at New England (June 1); Los Angeles at Columbus; Portland at Toronto and Houston at Vancouver (Aug. 15); Portland at Colorado (Sept. 5); Salt Lake at Houston (Sept. 6); and Chivas USA at Seattle (Sept. 8).

A look back at Chicago's sports in 2011.

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who is entering his third season in MLS, has been called up by U.S. National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for a January training camp.

The session starts on Jan. 3 as the U.S. prepares for a Jan. 21 match against Venezuela in Glendale, Ariz., followed by a Jan. 25 game against Panama in Panama City.

"I'm definitely excited about it," Johnson said. "There's a lot to look forward to in getting to play alongside the guys that are going to be there. We have two games to cap off the camp, so I think it will be good competition, and one that will help prepare for the season, as well."

Other than defender Michael Parkhurst and midfielder Ricardo Clark, the 20-player roster consists of MLS players, five of which are in search of their first international cap.

"I've heard a lot of things from their club coaches and received a lot of recommendations," Klinsmann said. "These guys are leaders in their MLS teams, and now they have the chance to show themselves on another level. Hopefully they get that extra sense of responsibility after they spend time in our camp, and go back to their club teams and become role models."

Johnson made his U.S. MNT debut on Jan. 22 during a 1-1 draw against Chile at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. He played in the second half, replacing starter Nick Rimando. Johnson, Rimando and D.C. United's Bill Hamid represent the Americans' goalkeeping crew heading into this January's training session.

Johnson is currently training with U.S. U-23 head coach Caleb Porter's squad, and he recently had an opportunity to train alongside U.S. starting goalkeeper Tim Howard and Everton FC.

With the upcoming Olympics, it is likely that Johnson will represent the U.S. and miss several Fire matches during the 2012 campaign.

"You're always honored to wear your nation's crest and to represent the U.S.," Johnson said. "With that, it's still tough to miss games with your club, but it's part of being a national team player. I'll likely miss games here or there, but I think representing my country is second to none. It'll be an interesting year, and a really busy one at that."

U.S.'s 20-man roster:
Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake); Defenders: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), George John (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA); Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revolution), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City); Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Fire face Real España in preseason: The Fire announced Tuesday that they will be playing Honduran side Real España at 5 p.m. Feb. 4 at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, La. Real Espana has won 10 Liga Nacional titles, including a 2010-11 championship.

Chicago will be training in Ave Maria, Fla., from Jan. 20 to Feb. 3 at the campus of Ave Maria University. The Fire's preseason docket includes a return to the Carolina Challenge Cup, which runs from Feb. 25 to March 4 in Charleston, S.C., against D.C. United, the Columbus Crew and host Charleston Battery.

The Chicago Fire chose forward Kheli Dube with their selection in the second stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Monday.

The 28-year-old Dube tallied 14 goals and eight assists in 72 games with the New England Revolution, and the Fire now begin negotiations with Dube on a contract.

Dube only saw the pitch five times and logged 114 minutes in 2011. The Bulawayo, Zimbabwe native was a regular starter for the Revs in 2009, starting in 20 of 26 games played and tallying a personal-best eight goals that season.

Only a handful of teams elected to participate in the re-entry draft, but quite a few players with Fire ties were involved in the process.

Former Fire midfielder and University of Illinois-Chicago alum Baggio Husidic was picked by the Colorado Rapids after Chicago made its selection for Dube and the next four teams decided to pass on their selection. Husidic had two assists and zero goals this past season, following up a 2010 campaign that included five goals and three assists.

Former Fire forward Nate Jaqua was the second pick of this second leg as the Revolution becomes the fifth MLS franchise that Jaqua has been a part of. The Fire's 2003 draft pick most recently played for Seattle Sounders FC.

The Fire's backup goalkeeper for 2011, Jon Conway, was chosen by the Los Angeles Galaxy. And former Fire defender Dasan Robinson, who was an available option for the re-entry draft, was brought back to L.A. after the team declined his option following the 2011 season.

Johnson joins U.S. U-23 squad: Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson begins training with the U.S. U-23 National Team this Thursday through Dec. 23. Johnson had been training with U.S. MNT goalkeeper Tim Howard and Everton FC. U-23 head coach Caleb Porter's 28-player group will train at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Nazarit, Ferrari released: Last Wednesday the Fire released forwards Cristian Nazarit and Gabriel Ferrari. Ferrari only played for 17 minutes in three games this past season. Nazarit had two goals in 12 games and 624 minutes in 2011. Nazarit's biggest highlight was the Fire's stoppage-time goal during a 1-0 road victory over the Columbus Crew on June 12, ending the team's dismal 0-4-7 stretch en route to interim head coach Frank Klopas' first win.

Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause has extended his contract through 2013, the team announced Tuesday. Terms of his extension were not disclosed.

Pause has been with the Fire since the team selected him in the third round of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft out of North Carolina. He made his 200th MLS appearance with the Fire during the team's 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on March 26. Pause is second only to retired defender C.J. Brown (296) with 227 career league games for the Fire.

"Logan has been a valuable asset to this club for a decade now," Fire head coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. "Logan is a great leader for our younger players on the field and in the locker room, and personifies our tenets of tradition, honor and passion."

The 30-year-old defensive midfielder started in 28 of 29 games played this past season, logging a career-high 2,514 minutes during the 34-game campaign. It was Pause's first season as Fire captain, taking over the armband previously worn by Brown.

"He knows what it means to put that Fire jersey on, for sure," Klopas said earlier this offseason. "He leads by example more than anything. I think when you have a captain like that, everyone else on the team emulates their captain and what he puts into every day. You can't deny how much he cares about the club and how professional he is. I think he did a fantastic job."

Klopas did not state definitively as to whether Pause will continue to maintain the captain role, simply saying that "he's been a great captain for the team and a great leader. What else do you look for when you appoint a captain?"

Pause has contributed two goals and 11 assists for the Fire in nine seasons. He also has six international caps with the U.S. National Team, participating on the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad that was the runner-up to Mexico.

The Chicago Fire purchased the rights to 20-year-old forward Orr Barouch from Mexican club Tigres UANL, the team announced Monday.

Barouch was a key second-half sub for the Fire during the 2011 season, appearing in 28 games but logging only 624 minutes. Barouch contributed two goals and two assists, but he had numerous shots that hit the goal frame last season.

"Orr is a talented, hardworking striker that played a significant role for us last season," Fire head coach Frank Klopas said in a statement. "He embodies the type of player we're looking for and is someone that we see enormous potential for in the future."

The Haifa, Israel, native joined the Fire in March of 2011, on loan from Tigres. He chipped in with three goals during the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition.

Barouch debuted for Israel's U-21 national team earlier this year.

Fire acquire Nolly from Vancouver: The Fire traded a first-round selection in the 2013 Supplemental Draft to the Vancouver Whitecaps for goalkeeper Jay Nolly.

Nolly, a two-time national champion for Indiana University in 2003 and 2004, was last season's backup to Whitecaps starting goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Nolly posted a 2-6-6 record with two shutouts and 39 saves in 2011. The Whitecaps were last in the Western Conference with a 6-18-10 record and 28 points during the team's expansion season.

Chicago had entered Monday's MLS Re-Entry Draft with only one goalkeeper on its roster -- starter Sean Johnson, who is training alongside U.S. National Team starting goalkeeper Tim Howard and Everton this week.

The selection that the Fire traded to Vancouver is part of a supplemental draft that takes place several days after the MLS SuperDraft. The upcoming MLS SuperDraft runs on Jan. 17, 2012, and is reduced to only two rounds and 38 selections.

Fire bypass re-entry draft's first stage: Only three selections were made in Monday's first leg of the MLS Re-Entry Draft, and Chicago did not participate. The New England Revolution picked defender Danleigh Borman, followed by Chivas USA picking midfielder/forward Arturo Alvarez and the Columbus Crew selecting defender Carlos Mendes.

The second leg of the re-entry draft takes place on Dec. 12.