By DAN KARELL
Another former league star has decided to return to Major League Soccer.
Following a year and a half spell with Hereenveen in the Netherlands, former Chicago Fire winger Marco Pappa has officially signed with MLS for the upcoming season, pending the receipt of his international transfer certificate (ITC), P-1 visa, and a medical. The Guatemalan international will go through the allocation order to find out which club he will play for.
The Seattle Sounders are first in the allocation order, followed by Toronto FC. MLS clubs have until Friday at 4 p.m. to select Pappa.
Pappa, 26, spent a little more than four years with the Fire, making 116 appearances in regular season and postseason games combined, scoring 26 goals and creating 17 assists. Following a permanent transfer in August 2012 to Hereenveen, Pappa struggled to earn playing time, making just 13 appearances in all. Pappa and Hereenveen mutually agreed to terminate his contract earlier this month, opening up his return to MLS.
In addition to his club statistics, Pappa has also appeared for the Guatemalan National Team on nearly 40 occasions, scoring six goals in all competitions. He played nine games in 2014 World Cup qualifying, only to come up just short against the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The Chicago Fire have declared their interest in bringing Pappa back to the club but because they received a transfer fee for Pappa, they no longer hold his rights.
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