Andrei Chirilă

Andrei Chirilă (born August 15, 2008), is an American professional soccer player who plays as a central defender for FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer (MLS). A product of the FC Cincinnati Academy, he signed a Homegrown Player contract with the club on April 2, 2026, becoming the youngest player in FC Cincinnati history to start an MLS match.

Early life Chirila was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the Cincinnati area. He is the younger brother of Ștefan Chirilă, a forward who also plays for FC Cincinnati. His father introduced both brothers to soccer from a young age. Chirila holds both American and Romanian citizenship.

Club career

FC Cincinnati Academy Chirila came through the FC Cincinnati Academy, emerging as one of the club's most promising young defenders. In the summer of 2025, he was selected to the 2025 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, representing the East alongside fellow FC Cincinnati Academy product Ademar Chávez.

FC Cincinnati 2 Chirila signed with FC Cincinnati 2 in the MLS NEXT Pro ahead of the 2025 season. He made his MLS NEXT Pro debut on March 9, 2025, starting and playing the full 90 minutes against Toronto FC II. Across the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, he made 26 starts and logged 2,249 minutes, the second most of any FC Cincinnati 2 player, and scored one goal from the backline. He also helped FCC 2 qualify for the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Across all appearances with FC Cincinnati 2, he tallied 2 goals and 1 assist in 31 appearances.

FC Cincinnati Chirila was called up to the FC Cincinnati first team on a Short-Term Agreement and made his senior debut on February 18, 2026, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One, Leg One match against O&M FC, helping the club to a 4–0 clean sheet victory.

Personal life Chirila and his older brother Ștefan Chirilă became the first pair of brothers to play for FC Cincinnati, and the first family duo to progress through the FC Cincinnati system in its entirety to reach the first team. Chirila wears the number 88 shirt, while his brother Stefan chose to wear his kit with the name "S. Chirila" to distinguish the two.

Honors Individual MLS NEXT All-Star Game selection: 2025