Allentown native Stefan Chirila signs homegrown contract with FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati have signed FC Cincinnati Academy U17 forward Stefan Chirila [stef-ON chur-ILL-uh] as a Homegrown Player, the club announced today. Chirila will sign an MLS NEXT Pro contract for remainder of the 2024 season with FC Cincinnati 2 before being added to the first team roster in 2025. Chirila signs a contract through 2028, with an option for 2029.

“We’re proud to have signed Stefan to his first professional contract,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager. “Stefan’s success is a testament to his hard work, as well as the work done by our Academy staff and MLS Next Pro staff. He already possesses great instincts around goal, and we’re excited for his continued development at FC Cincinnati.”

He scored 41 goals this season across all youth competitions, winning the golden boot award in the recent Generation adidas Cup. He’s scored four goals in Next Pro since debuting in the beginning of the season, scoring game winners against Columbus Crew 2 and New York Red Bulls II, and also has a pair of assists.

Chirila joined the Philadelphia Union Academy as a U-12 player in 2019. Prior to joining the Union he had a short stint at FC Delco and played for his hometown club Lehigh Valley United.