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The Chicago Fire have signed Israeli-American goalkeeper Josh Cohen to a one-and-a-half-year deal, the club announced this morning. Cohen was a free agent after leaving Atlanta United last year.
Cohen, 33, has had a unique career that has taken him to three continents. Born in California, Cohen came up through Brazilian academies, including Grêmio, before returning to the U.S. for college soccer. He spent time in USL before moving to Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League, where he played Champions League group stage football on a handful of occasions. Cohen won three Israeli league titles before signing for Atlanta United in 2024.
In Chicago, Cohen will likely be the Fire's #2 goalkeeper in 2026. Last season, Gregg Berhalter took a gamble by not signing a new backup to replace the retiring Spencer Richey, instead opting to promote #3 keeper Jeff Gal to #2. The gamble seemed to work for most of the year, as starter Chris Brady was mostly available, but it backfired in the playoffs when Brady got injured just hours before the team's decisive Game 2 against the Philadelphia Union. Gal was involved in all three goals, including two major errors, resulting in a 3-0 Union win that ended the Fire's season.
Signing Cohen seeks to alleviate that problem by adding a new face to the goalkeeping department with more high-level experience than Gal. It also allows Gal to return to the third-string role, which he was originally signed for and is probably more suited for. Cohen appeared three times for Atlanta in 2024, but did not feature in 2025. He has made eight total MLS Next Pro appearances for Atlanta United II.
Cohen is a one-time U.S. Men's National Team call-up. He was called into one camp in June 2023, leading up to the CONCACAF Nations League in Las Vegas that summer under B.J. Callaghan. That was his only-ever call-up, and he did not feature. During his one call-up, he trained alongside Chicago Fire II goalkeeper Owen Pratt, who has pre-signed a homegrown contract for 2027.
Cohen will initially be placed on the Fire's senior roster, but is eligible to be moved to the supplemental roster at a later date. He was on Atlanta United's senior roster last season.
