It appears Gilberto is headed back to MLS – just not with his original club.
ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle reported late on Sunday that the Brazilian striker will join the Chicago Fire off of waivers from Toronto FC. The news comes hours after Carlisle reported that Chicago traded the discovery rights to ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to the Montreal Impact in exchange for “a record amount” of targeted and regular allocation money.
Gilberto signed a Designated Player contract with Toronto FC in December 2013, scoring seven goals in 28 league games for TFC in 2014. He was sent on loan to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama this preseason after TFC brought in Jozy Altidore as a DP, a move that took the club over the three Designated Player maximum and necessitated Gilberto’s departure.
Carlisle reports that Gilberto’s loan to Vasco da Gama just ended, once again putting four DPs on TFC's books and forcing the club to place him on waivers. Chicago were first in the waiver draft order, since they are currently in last place in the league-wide standings.
Gilberto, 26, scored nine goals in 13 appearances with Vasco da Gama in the Rio de Janeiro state championship but did not find the back of the net in 12 league appearances in Brazil.
