Joel Waterman

Defender #16
Age 29 years
Nationality Canada
Market Value €3M

Career

No transfer history

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.

Player Rating

Joel Robert Waterman
47
Rating
50
steady
Form
⚡ Skills 49
🎯 Clutch 50
🎨 Style 50
📊 Ability 50
💰 Fair Value
🎚️ ●○○
Defender

Archetypes earned from what we've seen this season.

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 - Ability to beat defenders with close control and skill moves Shooting: 5 - Clinical finishing, shot accuracy, and conversion rate Defense: 55 - Winning duels, tackles, interceptions, and blocks Workrate: 36 - Engine and intensity - total duels and physical commitment Passing: 11 - Vision, key passes, and ability to create chances
Dribbling
Shooting
Defense
Workrate
Passing
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 League Mins Rating G A FM Score Venue
Apr 26, 2026 Chicago Fire 5-0 Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer 97' 7.3 - - 58 Soldier Field
Apr 18, 2026 FC Cincinnati 3-3 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer 25' 6.0 0 0 100 TQL Stadium
Apr 12, 2026 Chicago Fire 1-0 Atlanta United FC Major League Soccer 0' - 0 0 35 Soldier Field
Mar 21, 2026 Philadelphia Union 1-2 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer 90' 6.9 0 0 55 Subaru Park
Mar 15, 2026 Chicago Fire 1-2 DC United Major League Soccer 25' 6.2 0 0 94 Soldier Field
Mar 08, 2026 Columbus Crew 0-0 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer 90' 7.2 0 0 28 ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
Feb 28, 2026 Chicago Fire 3-0 CF Montreal Major League Soccer 33' 6.9 0 0 76 Soldier Field
Feb 22, 2026 Houston Dynamo 2-1 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer 90' 5.9 0 0 64 Shell Energy Stadium

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