According to Goal.com, Chris Rolfe is off to Europe this winter. For good. His contract is up at the end of the season, and Danish side Aalborg BK has picked him up on a free transfer. Aalborg BK, also known as AaB, is the home of another American, striker Marcus Tracy.
The terms of the deal haven’t been fully disclosed, but the deal is rumored to be for three years. AaB tried to buy Rolfe during the transfer period this summer, but was shut down by MLS in an absolutely boneheaded move by the league. Sadly, the Bakary Soumare disaster likely played a role in preventing Rolfe’s transfer this summer.
This is a great move for Rolfe. He already has 10 caps for the US National Team, and with the additional experience and training he’ll get he might finally break into the ‘A’ Squad picture for Bob Bradley. Going to the Danish Superliga has worked for other USMNT players, including Benny Feilhaber. It will also help Rolfe to have a fellow American on the team to help with the transition period that always comes with going from MLS to European play. Rolfe told Greg Lalas of Goal.com that Michael Parkhurst and Danny Califf, two Americans that also play in the Danish Superliga, helped convince him that Aalborg was the right choice amongst other suitors from Norway and Germany.
What this means for the Fire remains to be seen. Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Brian McBride are both in the final years of their contracts. It has been rumored recently the Blanco will return to the Fire next season, despite his announcement at the beginning of the year that he was leaving Chicago at the conclusion of the season. McBride remains uncommitted, saying his decision about next year will depend on how his body holds up. No matter who stays and who goes, the Fire have a lot of work to do this off season if they want to maintain their powerhouse reputation in MLS. Perhaps Frank Klopas should start focusing on finding players that can win at Toyota Park.
