DETROIT – Detroit City FC announced on Tuesday it had acquired forward Victor Bezerra on loan from the Chicago Fire organization for the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

A native of Chicago, Bezerra has made five appearances for the Fire in Major League Soccer since signing as a Homegrown Player with the club prior to the 2022 season. He has also recorded 11 goals and three assists in 26 appearances for the Fire’s reserve team in MLS NEXT Pro over the past two seasons, averaging a goal every 126.7 minutes for the Fire II.

The 24-year-old had previously come through the ranks of the Fire Academy before attending Indiana University, where he recorded 28 goals and 12 assists in 57 appearances in his college career. As a sophomore for the Hoosiers, Bezerra was a runner-up for the 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy while also winning the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and being voted to the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team and All-Big Ten First Team.

Analysis

With an impressive scoring rate for the Chicago Fire II over the past two seasons, Victor Bezerra becomes the latest player to join a USL Championship club on loan this season aiming to make an impact in the league while also hoping to boost his prospects with his hometown club.

Joining an attack that has already shown its potential with new additions Elvis Amoh and Ali Coote in DCFC’s season-opening victory on Saturday night, the 6-foot-2 forward could be an option to fit into the right side of the three-man front line Head Coach Danny Dichio rolled out this weekend. If he can add to the chemistry that already seems to be building in the squad, this could be another useful piece for Le Rouge as it looks for attacking improvement this season.