CF Montréal trades veteran forward Kei Kamara to Chicago Fire

On the eve of the 2023 MLS season, CF Montréal was wheeling and dealing, as they officially traded forward Kei Kamara to the Chicago Fire for $250 000 in GAM on Friday. 

The veteran forward, who turns 39 later this season, joins his 10th MLS club in Chicago, and fifth since the start of the 2018 campaign. 

Signed to Montréal late on in their 2022 preseason, Kamara ended up being a revelation last year for the club, scoring nine goals and adding seven assists in 32 MLS games with his new club. 

Heading into this season, however, Kamara then surprised Montréal brass by requesting a trade, citing a lack of a long-term contract offer as his reason. Further compounding the issue, he picked up an illness shortly before training camp, forcing him to arrive a week late, leaving him to play catch-up through preseason. 

Yet, despite that, it was expected that Kamara would start the season with Montréal, having participated fully the rest of preseason. 

That all changed on Friday, however, as Montréal Sporting Director, Olivier Renard, told local radio that things had accelerated on the Kamara front, citing a recent disagreement between Kamara and the front office as a big reason why. 

Le but du club était de garder Kei Kamara au départ, mais Olivier Renard parle d'un événement où Kei Kamara aurait haussé le ton et manqué de respect à Vassili Cremanzidis et ce fut la fin des haricots. #CFMTL #IMFC @BPMSportsRadio @JiCLajoie

— Daphnée Malboeuf (@DaphneeMalboeuf) February 24, 2023

Now, Kamara will look to put this whole ordeal behind him with Chicago, who could certainly use his offence, having only scored 39 goals in 2022, good for 2nd-last in MLS. 

CF Montréal kicks off their MLS season on Saturday, February 25th with a road clash against Inter Miami.