According to a [Goal.com report](http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2009/09/02/1477082/exclusive-chicagos-rolfe-to-join-danish-club-aalborg), Fire forward Chris Rolfe is set to leave Chicago in January to join Danish Club Aalborg (or Aab, as they are more commonly known) on a free transfer.
"I'm very excited, as I think Aalborg is as well," Rolfe told Goal.com. "It's a new opportunity and something I've always wanted to do."
**UPDATE:**
**The Fire front office has confirmed the story to be true. Here's Frank Klopas's quote:**
**"Chris Rolfe has wanted to play overseas for some time and we certainly support his decision to pursue this dream. The Fire has appreciated his significant contributions to the club over the last few years. He is a talented and passionate player and we wish him the very best and hope that he can end his time here by winning a championship."**
The 26-year-old Rolfe, who is in the last year of his contract with the Fire, was apparently looking to come back to MLS next year but negotiations broke down earlier this summer and he began to look elsewhere.
The fifth year University of Dayton product, who told me just last week that he wanted to "play at the highest level I can possibly play at" in 2010, did thank the Chicago fans for their support throughout his tenure with the Fire.
"I love Chicago, they've been great to me," he said. "The fans, especially, have been awesome. But with the way the contracts are in MLS, now was really the only time for me to make this jump."
Rolfe will sign a three year deal with Aab when the transfer window re-opens in January and will join fellow American Marcus Tracy at the club and fellow Yanks Benny Feilhaber, Dan Califf, and Michael Parkhurst in the Danish League.
The loss of Rolfe is another tough blow for the Fire, who figure to go through a tumultuous off-season this winter. We'll see how everything pans out once the season ends, but Brian McBride, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Gonzalo Segares, Wilman Conde and Marco Pappa could be joining Rolfe, former defender Bakary Soumare, and the retiring Brandon Prideaux in leaving the team -- moves that would effectively rip out the nucleus of the 2009 squad.
Filed under: 2009 Regular Season, Chris Rolfe
Tags: Aalborg, Chicago Fire, Chris Rolfe, Transfer
If we don't finish with a trophy this year we probably will not see one next year...
sam, have you ever talked to chris when you both didnt end up cracking up? he is gotta be one of the happiest people ive ever known.
Ha, I don't think so Bert. Maybe once... Regardless, Chris is a good guy and the Fire will miss him on and off the field.
OH NO! NO! FIRST BAKY AND NOW THIS...
ah well. he deserved it more than mos others on the squad.
Awesome he's gonna bunk with Benny. Play at a higher level, and next thing ya know Hello National Team! FIRE4EVER
Janjo, you said Rolfe was going to Holland. So are all of your predictions . . . sorry, "inside info" a few countries off?
So Conde may not be going to Mexico like Janjo claimed, but actually heading to Guatemala? And Segares is going to end up in Belgium instead of France as Janjo claims?
I'd really like to subscribe to your newsletter . . . it's entertaining but not actually filled with any facts. Kinda like the New York Times.
nooooooooooo Chris dont leave us :( im happy for him and atleast he is here until the end of the season (unlike Bakary) but damn we are droppin like flys.. hopefully now Bob Bradley will realize that he should be on the national team though.