Fire sign Uruguayan goalkeeper Jorge Bava

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As the Chicago Fire have added a striker and a midfielder earlier this December, a gaping hole at goalkeeper remained.

Matt Lampson, who made 11 starts in 2016, was the team’s only goalkeeper under contract. That changed on Saturday with the addition of 35-year-old Uruguayan Jorge Bava.

Bava last played for Atletico Bucaramanga in the Colombian first division. The 6-foot-4 ‘keeper has also played in Argentina, Mexico and Paraguay in addition to five clubs in his native Uruguay.

“Bava is technically clean, comfortable off his line and a good organizer of the defense,” general manager Nelson Rodríguez said in the team's announcement. “His skill set is complementary to that of Matt Lampson and we expect him to compete for playing time.”

The contract is a one-year deal with options for 2018 and 2019.

Bava will take up an international slot on the Fire’s roster, bringing the team’s total to eight, which is the league's limit. In order to add another international player, the Fire can trade for another international spot or have a current player receive a green card to count as a domestic player.

The Fire currently have 20 players under contract.

The combine for next week's MLS SuperDraft starts tomorrow. The Fire have the third and 11th picks in the first round.

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