Samual Rogers Bio
Samual Jarard Rogers (born May 17, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Rogers has built a career that has taken him from the youth ranks of the Seattle Sounders FC Academy to professional leagues in the United States and Norway, before returning stateside with Chicago Fire in early 2025. He is also a former United States international, having represented his country at senior level in 2023.
Samual Rogers
Early Life and Background
Samual Jarard Rogers was born on May 17, 1999, in Seattle, Washington, United States. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, he developed his early soccer skills within a region that has long been a hotbed for the sport in the United States. He attended Ballard High School in Seattle, balancing his academic life with a demanding youth soccer schedule.
Rogers joined the Seattle Sounders FC Academy in 2013 at the age of 14, beginning a four-year development path within one of Major League Soccer’s most established youth systems. The Academy provided him with high-level coaching, competitive matches, and a clear pathway toward a professional career. On February 23, 2017, it was announced that he had signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Villanova University, a route that many young American players take toward the professional game.
Path to Soccer
Just months after his college commitment, Rogers made the decision to turn professional. On June 13, 2017, he chose to forgo college and signed his first professional contract with Seattle Sounders FC 2, the club’s United Soccer League side. Six days later, on June 19, 2017, he graduated from high school, completing his academic obligations before fully committing to the professional ranks.
His professional debut came quickly. On March 26, 2017, Rogers made his first appearance for Seattle Sounders FC 2 in a 2-1 defeat to Sacramento Republic, marking the start of a senior career that would soon take him abroad. He scored his first professional goal on April 25, 2017, in a 3-2 loss to San Antonio, offering an early glimpse of his ability to contribute in the attacking third despite playing as a center-back.
Samual Rogers Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
Rogers spent his first three professional seasons with Tacoma Defiance, the rebranded Seattle Sounders FC 2, competing in the USL Championship. He featured regularly as a young center-back, gaining valuable experience against experienced professionals. In 2019, he trialed with Standard Liège in Belgium, an experience that broadened his perspective on European football, and he rejoined the Seattle Sounders FC preseason camp in early 2020.
His time in the USL helped establish him as a promising defensive talent. By the end of his Tacoma spell in 2020, Rogers had built a foundation of physical and tactical development that would prepare him for the next phase of his career overseas.
Norwegian Breakthrough (2021-2024)
In April 2021, Rogers signed with USL Championship side OKC Energy, but his career soon shifted to Europe. In August 2021, he joined Norwegian second-tier team HamKam on loan until the end of the season. After helping HamKam earn promotion, Rogers signed a permanent contract at the start of 2022. Shortly thereafter, he was transferred to Rosenborg, one of Norway’s most successful clubs, after his former HamKam manager Kjetil Rekdal moved to lead the Trondheim side.
On August 31, 2023, Rogers signed with Lillestrøm on a contract that was set to run through the end of 2026, signaling his continued rise in Norwegian football. In 2024, he was loaned to Aalesund, where he gained additional top-flight experience before his transfer to Major League Soccer.
Chicago Fire Era (2025-Present)
Rogers returned to the United States on January 13, 2025, signing a two-year deal with Chicago Fire for an undisclosed fee. The move brought the Seattle native back to his home country and reunited him with Major League Soccer, where he had begun his youth development more than a decade earlier. He wears the number 5 shirt for the club.
His arrival was viewed as a reinforcement of Chicago Fire’s defensive corps, adding a left-footed, 6-foot-3 center-back with European top-flight and international experience. The 2025 campaign marks his first full season back in American professional soccer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Rogers’ career are his professional debut for Seattle Sounders FC 2 in March 2017, his first senior goal just a month later, his role in HamKam’s promotion to the Norwegian top flight in 2021, and his senior international debut for the United States in 2023. His return to Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire in January 2025 represents another major milestone, completing a career arc that has spanned youth development, European football, and the senior national team.
Samual Rogers Family
Personal Life
Samual Jarard Rogers was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and remains connected to the Pacific Northwest community where he first developed as a player. Public details about his immediate family and personal relationships are limited, and he has largely kept his private life out of the public eye as he has pursued his professional soccer career in the United States and abroad.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a new chapter for Samual Jarard Rogers as he embarks on his first full year with Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. Returning to the American top flight after several seasons in Norway, Rogers is expected to provide leadership and physicality in the heart of the Fire’s defense. His height of 6 feet 3 inches and his experience in the Norwegian top flight position him as a candidate to play a central role in the team’s back line.
As a center-back with senior international experience for the United States, Rogers brings a profile that combines domestic familiarity with European tactical development. The two-year deal he signed in January 2025 suggests that Chicago Fire view him as a long-term building block rather than a short-term addition, and his performances throughout the season will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
Looking ahead, Rogers’ primary focus will be on establishing himself as a regular starter, helping Chicago Fire compete in the league, and remaining available for selection with the United States national team as it continues its competitive calendar.