Active in Major League Soccer
Joel Waterman
Defender #16
Age 29 years
Nationality Canada
Market Value €3M
Career
No transfer history
Scout Report
Our breakdown of how this player plays, built from this season's match data.
Joel Robert Waterman is a solid SQUAD PLAYER for Chicago Fire. Evidence: 5.0 Appearances.
Player DNA
Are they a specialist or an all-rounder? The shape tells the story.
A developing player working on their overall game.
Joel Robert Waterman Traits
Percentile rankings show how a player compares to others. 90% means they rank higher than 90% of comparable players.
vs Defenders
Height 54%
Weight 49%
Experience 78%
vs Major League Soccer
Height 63%
Weight 58%
Experience 78%
Player DNA
Five dimensions that show what kind of player they are
Dribbling 13
Shooting 5
Defense 55
Workrate 36
Passing 11
Key Strength 55 Defense
Area to Watch 5 Shooting
Match Stats
Match-by-match record for Joel Robert Waterman this season
| Date | Fixture | Mins | Rating | G | A | FM Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2026 | Chicago Fire 5-0 Sporting Kansas City | 97' | 7.3 | - | - | 58 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | FC Cincinnati 3-3 Chicago Fire | 25' | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | Chicago Fire 1-0 Atlanta United FC | 0' | - | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Mar 21, 2026 | Philadelphia Union 1-2 Chicago Fire | 90' | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | 55 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | Chicago Fire 1-2 DC United | 25' | 6.2 | 0 | 0 | 94 |
| Mar 08, 2026 | Columbus Crew 0-0 Chicago Fire | 90' | 7.2 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | Chicago Fire 3-0 CF Montreal | 33' | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | 76 |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Houston Dynamo 2-1 Chicago Fire | 90' | 5.9 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| Date | Fixture | FM Score |
|---|---|---|
| May 03, 2026 | Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati | 83 |
| May 09, 2026 | Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls | 49 |
| May 13, 2026 | DC United vs Chicago Fire | 37 |
| May 16, 2026 | CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire | 33 |
| May 24, 2026 | Chicago Fire vs Toronto FC | 46 |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Chicago Fire vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 46 |
| Jul 22, 2026 | Inter Miami vs Chicago Fire | 39 |
| Jul 25, 2026 | New York City FC vs Chicago Fire | 50 |
| Aug 02, 2026 | Chicago Fire vs Charlotte | 43 |
| Aug 16, 2026 | Chicago Fire vs Portland Timbers | 44 |
Player Market Value
Track Joel Robert Waterman's transfer value changes and career value history
Current Value €2.5M
Peak Value €2.5M (Q1'23)
€2.5M €1.3M €0
Q3'19 Q1'20 Q3'20 Q4'20 Q3'21 Q4'21 Q3'22 Q4'22 Q1'23 Q3'23 Q4'23 Q2'24 Q4'24 Q2'25 Q4'25
Joel Waterman operates as Chicago's Bronze-tier utility man. The 30-year-old Canadian defender, who crossed over from Montréal, is building his body of work in a new environment. He brings vital tactical flexibility to the pitch whenever rotation becomes necessary to keep the squad fresh.
Though working with an emerging sample size of just 328 minutes across five appearances this season, the underlying data points to a highly capable defensive rotation option. His primary value lies in his robust Defense metrics, allowing him to step in seamlessly across the backline to shut down opposition attacks. Being officially recognised with the SQUAD PLAYER badge highlights this exact trait — he is the versatile contributor a manager inherently trusts to see out a tight match. Better yet, his trajectory suggests he is hitting top form just as the physical demands of the campaign increase.
With his market value holding steady at €2M, Waterman represents a brilliant low-risk depth piece. As Chicago navigates a gruelling schedule, having a dependable tactical chameleon in the ranks provides crucial peace of mind.