Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed Norwegian defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen from German Bundesliga club Mainz 05 via transfer.
Hanche-Olsen will occupy an international slot on the Fire’s roster, pending completion of a medical and receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). His contract with the Fire will run through the 2030-31 season.
“Andreas brings extensive experience at both the international level and across European competitions, including several seasons in a top five league,” said Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the leadership, professionalism and competitive mentality that are important to building a successful team. We believe those qualities, combined with his experience on the field, will make him a valuable addition to our group.”
Hanche-Olsen, 29, has appeared in over 300 matches across professional leagues in Norway, Belgium and Germany, scoring 12 goals and registering 10 assists as a defender. He began his professional career in the youth system of Norwegian club Staebek before climbing the ranks to the first team in 2020. From Staebek, Hanche-Olsen moved to Belgian Jupiler League club KAA Gent where he played in 107 matches and scored two goals, winning the 2022 Belgian Cup. With Gent, he played in Belgium’s top flight, as well as the Croky Cup, Europa League Qualifying the Volkswagen Supercup, the UEFA Conference League.
Hanche-Olsen made the transition from the Jupiler League to the German Bundesliga for the 2022-23 season, appearing in 77 matches across all competitions for the German side, as well as scoring three goals and registering four assists as a defender.
At the international level, Hanche-Olsen has earned 22 caps for the Norway senior national team.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC acquires Norwegian defender Andreas Hansche-Olsen from Bundesliga club Mainz 05 via transfer. His contract with the Fire will run through the 2030-31 season.
Name: Andreas Hansche-Olsen (an-DRAY-ahs HAN-shay OHL-sen)
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 150 lbs.
Date of Birth: January 17, 1997
Hometown: Bodø, Norway
Birthplace: Bodø, Norway
Citizenship: Norway
Last Club: Mainz 05 (Germany)
