Tony Tchani is looking for a new team after he was waived by Chicago. (Photo courtesy of MLS)
A day after it was eliminated from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Chicago Fire did some house cleaning Thursday.
The Fire released former former Red Bulls midfielder Tony Tchani and defender Kevin Ellis
Acquired via a trade with Vancouver Whitecaps FC Feb. 28, the 29-year-old Tchani scored one goal in 13 league matches. He also played in three Open Cup games.
The Red Bulls had some big expectations of Tchani when they choose him out of the University of Virginia as the second overall selection of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He made his pro debut in the first league match at Red Bull Arena that March 27 before scoring his first career goal in a 3-1 defeat to Columbus Crew SC that May 30.
Tchani never lived up to being a second overall pick.
He was dealt to Toronto FC along with Danleigh Borman and a 2012 SuperDraft first-round pick for Canadian international Dwayne DeRosario April 1, 2011. Tchani performed with Columbus from 2011-17 before he was dealt to Vancouver in 2017.
Ellis signed with the Fire on March 9, after spending the first seven seasons of his professional career with Sporting Kansas City. This season, Ellis scored two goals and added four assists in 20 league matches. He also played in two Open Cup games.
The Fire (6-13-5, 23 points) is in 10th place out of 11 teams in the Eastern Conference.
