Xherdan Shaqiri rejoins Basel after Chicago Fire exit

Xherdan Shaqiri rejoins Basel after Chicago Fire exit

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Xherdan Shaqiri has rejoined Basel on a three-year contract following his departure from Chicago Fire.

32-year-old Shaqiri and the Chicago Fire confirmed they had mutually agreed to terminate the Switzerland international’s contract on Wednesday. His deal had been due to expire at the end of the 2024 MLS season.

“It fills me with pride and I am very happy that I can return to my hometown of FCB today,” Shaqiri said. “I have had a deep connection with the club and the region since I was a child. As a fan and of course as a player.

“I completed my football training in Basel and was then able to launch my international career. Now I want to attack again with FCB and I can hardly wait to see our fans again in the Joggeli.”

Shaqiri progressed through the Basel academy and made 130 appearances for the club between 2009 and 2012, scoring 23 goals and winning three Swiss Super League titles.

Moves to Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke City, Liverpool and Lyon followed before he signed for Chicago Fire in February 2022.

Shortly after he joined the Fire, the MLS Players’ Association announced Shaqiri had the league’s highest guaranteed compensation at $8.15million and the highest base salary at $7.35m for the 2022 season. For the 2024 season, he was behind Lionel Messi, Lorenzo Insigne and Sergio Busquets.

Shaqiri returns to Basel having won the Premier League, Bundesliga and two Champions League titles.

Sporting director Daniel Stucki added: “We have been talking to Xherdan for weeks and are extremely happy that his return to Basel has finally worked out. The signing was only possible — also financially — because FCB, but above all Xherdan himself, really wanted this return.

“The fact that a player of his calibre is playing in red and blue again in the Super League is a strong signal to the club, the city of Basel and the region, but also to Swiss football in general. We are convinced that our team will benefit from his experience and class.“

Shaqiri, Switzerland’s second most capped player of all time, featured twice at the European Championship and became the first MLS player to score at the tournament with his group-stage goal against Scotland. He announced his retirement from international duty following Switzerland’s exit in the round of 16, having made 125 appearances for his country.

(Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images)

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