Chicago Fire acquire midfielder Khaly Thiam on loan

The Chicago Fire have acquired Senegalese midfielder Khaly Thiam on loan from MTK Budapest FC until the end of the 2016 MLS season, the club announced Wednesday.

The Fire first needed to acquire Thiam's discovery rights from the Columbus Crew, trading their natural 2017 second-round SuperDraft pick; however, if he starts in more than 12 matches, extends his loan spell, or permanently joins the Fire, the Crew will receive General Allocation Money instead.

"Khaly has a wide skill set that we believe will prove complementary to our current group," Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez said in a statement. "He is good in possession, an effective ball winner and gets forward quite well. Importantly, he has a deep desire to triumph."

Thiam joins the Fire having played in the Hungarian first division for two seasons, making 47 appearances for MTK Budapest in the time and recording four goals and three assists.