Attitude, workrate, and goals record are Sapong's legacy as he moves on to Chicago

After the 2014 season, the MLS half-day trade window occurred before Orlando City and New York City FC's expansion draft. This quirky player movement mechanism allows teams to make a few moves before new clubs poach players and start building their roster. In that 2014 window, the Union made two significant moves. First, they traded Amobi Okugo to Orlando City SC. Okugo was the final player remaining from the roster that began the club's inaugural season and so, in a way, his trade signaled the end of a an era. By the end of the year, Sheanon Williams and Carlos Valdes would also be gone, and Tranquillo Barnetta arrived to become a key piece of the attack. Similarly, then, the Union's other deal in that 2014 half-day window can be seen, in hindsight, as a move toward the club's next phase. 
Building on Jim Curtin's notion that the Union should be a club that valued work, perseverance, and a fighter's mentality, CJ Sapong was acquired from Sporting Kansas City. Sapong wanted to play through the center, and the Union were willing to give him that chance. He was willing to work his tail off to disrupt opponent buildups, and the Union used that workrate to get Barnetta on the ball in dangerous areas after high turnovers. 
By 2017, Sapong was the centerpiece of the Union's offense. His 16 goals in 2017 set a franchise record, and the big striker added a MLS Humanitarian of the Year nomination to his resume that same year. 
Last year the goals dried up but Sapong found a new way to contribute. Using his size to dominate in the air and cutting inside to open the flank for his fullback, Sapong helped the Union make the MLS Cup playoffs and the US Open Cup final. 
The Union's depth at the striker position meant they could move Sapong at the right price this offseason, and Chicago should provide opportunities to a player that has shown he can operate both through the center and on the wing. Sapong's adaptability will work well in Chicago's loosely structured system, and his ability to bring others into play should be useful for Fire's Nemanja Nikolic and Alex Katai. 
As Ernst Tanner said, this was a deal that, on the surface, benefits all parties. 
Sapong deserves a chance to play, and the Union's depth may not have allowed for that. The Union want more flexibility to continue roster building as the season progresses, and this allocation money offers that. The Fire? They want players that can read and respond to Bastian Schweinsteiger; Big No. 17 checks that box. 
It's another in a series of high profile offseason moves for the Union as their opener on March 2 against Toronto FC approaches.