The Chicago Red Stars welcome Sonja Fuss and Inka Grings

On March 21st the Chicago Red Stars confirmed the signing of two German international players, Inka Grings and Sonja Fuss. According to the Red Stars’ Twitter account, both stars arrived on Tuesday and will join Wednesday’s training session.

Grings, a forward, and Fuss, a defender were teammates on the German National team from 1996 to 2009. They arrive in Chicago following a successful stint with Swiss club FC Zurich Frauen, which they have both played since September 2011. FC Zurich Frauen completed their 2012/2013 season on top of the Nationalliga A table. They have won the national championship seventeen times and have won the Swiss Women’s Cup two consecutive times, in 2012 and 2013.

The Red Stars have conceded ten goals in five games this season and allowed Sydney Leroux to score a hat trick in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Breakers. The addition of Fuss may help their poor defensive record. She has received 68 caps for the German senior squad and contributed, alongside Grings, to their 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cup wins. Fuss and Grings are also three-time UEFA Women’s European Champions with the German National team.

In addition, Fuss has accumulated a great deal of experience playing for numerous Women’s Bundesliga clubs, such as FFC Turbine Potsdam and FCR 2001 Duisburg, both of which she won the UEFA Champions League with.

The Red Stars have also only managed to score three goals this season. Grings may provide the attacking threat the club requires to improve their scoring record and finally record their first victory in NWSL. Grings is the all-time leading goal scorer in the Women’s Bundesliga, having netted 353 goals during her 16-year career with FCR 2001 Duisburg.

It is yet to be announced when both stars will set the field. Chicago faces the Western New York Flash on May 24th, Portland on June 1st and the Boston Breakers on June 9th.