Fire FC II Signs Draft Pick Jack Sandmeyer
Chicago Fire FC II has signed defender Jack Sandmeyer, the club’s 2026 MLS SuperDraft selection, to an MLS NEXT Pro contract running through the 2026 season. The deal includes a club option for the 2027 transition season. Financial terms were not disclosed in accordance with league policy.
Sandmeyer, 23, was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft on Dec. 18, 2025. He most recently played as a graduate student at the University of North Carolina during the 2025 campaign, where he started all 20 matches as a defensive midfielder and logged more than 1,800 minutes.
“Jack has a good understanding of the game to go with good feet and a dominant physical presence,” said Chicago Fire II Head Coach Mike Matkovich. “He has a very mature mindset that has helped him quickly integrate himself into the team and gives him high potential to reach the next level.”
In North Carolina, Sandmeyer helped anchor a defense that posted a .850 goals-against average and recorded eight clean sheets. He scored one goal during the season — a bicycle kick in a draw against North Florida — and earned third-team All-ACC honors.
Before UNC, Sandmeyer attended UC Davis before transferring to the University of San Diego for his senior year. At San Diego, he started 19 matches and scored two goals, including a key strike in an NCAA Tournament upset over No. 10 Duke.
With the signing, Sandmeyer becomes the fourth former UNC-Chapel Hill player to join Chicago Fire FC in 2026. Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, along with midfielders Mauricio Pineda and Sam Williams, also played collegiately at North Carolina.
Chicago Fire FC competes in Major League Soccer with its professional roster. The club supports player development across the Midwest through youth programs and community initiatives, and plays its home matches at Soldier Field. Since entering MLS as an expansion team, the Fire have won both an MLS Cup and a U.S. Open Cup, building a brand rooted in Chicago’s local history.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC II signed defender Jack Sandmeyer to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through the end of the 2026 season.
