Categories: Chicago FireChicago Stars FC

The Deep Dish: Red Stars Sign Grosso

BIELLA, ITALY - MAY 13: Julia Grosso of Juventus during the Women Serie A match between Juventus and AS Roma on May 13, 2024 in Biella, Italy. (Photo by Filippo Alfero - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

RED STARS: On Monday, the Chicago Red Stars signed Canadian international Julia Grosso. Having recently been named to the Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer Team roster, Grosso will join the Red Stars in market following the Olympics and receipt of her P-1 Visa.

Grosso joins Chicago from Juventus FC of the Serie A Women’s League in Italy. The midfielder spent an impressive three seasons with the Italian side, winning the 2022 Copa Italia, Series A league title and the Supercopa. In Grosso’s second season with Juventus, the Canadian was named the Serie A Midfielder of the Season with four goals in 34 matches across all competitions. Grosso made 76 appearances and scored 10 goals over her time with Juventus. Grosso previously spent time in the United States at the collegiate level for the University of Texas, scoring 21 goals across 60 appearances for the Longhorns between 2018-2021.

She has 63 caps for Canada with three goals. She scored the winning penalty for Canada at the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo that won the gold medal.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Red Stars and can’t wait to hit the field every weekend and give it my all,” said Grosso. “I’ve heard that Red Star fans are super passionate, so I’m excited to be a part of that. I’m looking forward to playing alongside the talented players in Chicago for the rest of the season and beyond!”

The Red Stars are off until July 20th when they will begin the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup hosting Gotham FC with a 4pm CT kickoff at SeatGeek Stadium.

THOUGHTS ON THE FIRE: Make a note of Sunday’s match as to why the Fire will miss the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season. Losing and getting blanked to a team who had given up a league-worst 56 goals so far is just inexcusable. It was a trap game at PayPal Park and the Fire walked right in.

It goes without saying that the performance needs to be much better against NYCFC on Saturday (7:30pm, Apple TV). There really isn’t that much more to be said. It’s the kind of loss that leaves Fire fans angry.