CHICAGO(Feb. 29, 2016) – The Chicago Fire announced Monday that the club has signed midfielder John Goossens to a two-year deal with a club option for the third year. Goossens will be added to the Fire roster upon receipt of his ITC and P1 Visa.
"John's style of play suits our team quite well,” said Fire general manager Nelson Rodríguez. “He is tidy on the ball. He can score from distance, run at the defense and play the final ball. His experience and willingness to serve as a role model to our younger players is an added plus."
Goossens joins the Fire after most recently representing FC Voluntari in the Romanian Liga I, where he scored one goal in 14 appearances.
A Dutch youth international, Goossens represented the Netherlands in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Goossens scored four goals and added two assists, helping lead the Dutch side to a third place finish.
A HBC Heemstede and Ajax youth product, Goossens made his senior debut with N.E.C. on Feb. 4, 2009. Soon after, on April 3, Goossens scored his first goal for his side, a 78th minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw against FC Twente. Through 2012, Goossens appeared in a total of 72 matches and scored 14 goals, including a brace against VVV-Venlo on April 9, 2011 and again on Dec. 17, 2011.
Goossens made the move to fellow Eredivisie side Feyenoord in the summer of 2012 and notched an assist in his debut on Oct. 21, 2012. On April 28, 2013, Goossens tallied his first points for his side, scoring a pair of goalsand adding two assists in a 6-0 win over Heracles. In all, Goossens appeared in 30 games, scoring three times for Feyenoord before departing to join Indian Super League side FC Pune City in 2014.
Name: John Goossens
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Born: July 25, 1988
Birthplace: Heemstede, Netherlands
Citizenship: Netherlands
Last Club: Voluntari (ROM)
Acquired: Signed on Feb. 29, 2016 as a Discovery Signing
