# Djé D'Avilla
**Djé D'Avilla** (full name Tah Ange Innocent D'Avilla Djé; born 2003) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for [Chicago Fire FC](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-fire-fc) in [Major League Soccer](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-soccer)[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.nl/dje-davilla/profil/spieler/890368). Born in Attécoubé, Côte d'Ivoire, he joined Chicago in April 2025 from Portugal's União de Leiria in a transfer reported at about €4 million[3](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-oficial-dje-davilla-deixa-o-ud-leiria-e-ruma-aos-eua-2025040116125254397).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tah Ange Innocent D'Avilla Djé[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla) |
| Born | 2003, Attécoubé, Côte d'Ivoire[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla) |
| Position | Defensive midfielder (secondary position: central midfielder); right-footed[2](https://www.transfermarkt.nl/dje-davilla/profil/spieler/890368) |
| Physical | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in), 181 lbs[4](https://www.chicagofirefc.com/players/dje-d-avilla/) |
| Club | Chicago Fire FC, number 42, since 1 April 2025; contract to 31 December 2028 with a one-year club option[2](https://www.transfermarkt.nl/dje-davilla/profil/spieler/890368) |
| Transfer fee | About €4 million to União de Leiria, April 2025[3](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-oficial-dje-davilla-deixa-o-ud-leiria-e-ruma-aos-eua-2025040116125254397) |
| MLS record | 2025: 24 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist; 2026: 27 appearances, 1,948 minutes, 1 goal[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla) |
| Roster status | Senior roster; player category International, U22 Initiative[4](https://www.chicagofirefc.com/players/dje-d-avilla/) |
## Early career
D'Avilla turned professional in 2020 and played in the [Ivory Coast](https://www.edgepedia.org/ivory-coast) and the [United Arab Emirates](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-arab-emirates) before moving to Portugal[5](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/exclusive-interview-dje-davilla-on-joining-the-chicago-fire-professional-goals/). His recorded transfer history begins with a July 2020 loan from LSAT to Stella Club d'Adjamé, a move to Al-Hilal United in October 2021, and a free transfer to União de Leiria on 1 July 2022[6](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/dje-tah-davilla/1444575).
At União de Leiria, then in Portugal's second tier, he was loaned to Académica Coimbra in August 2023 before returning[6](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/dje-tah-davilla/1444575). Across all competitions for Leiria he made 45 league appearances in total without scoring[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla).
## Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire FC signed D'Avilla to a permanent deal in April 2025, with the transfer expected to bring about €4 million to Leiria[3](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-oficial-dje-davilla-deixa-o-ud-leiria-e-ruma-aos-eua-2025040116125254397) • [5](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/exclusive-interview-dje-davilla-on-joining-the-chicago-fire-professional-goals/). He is listed on the senior roster in the International and U22 Initiative player categories[4](https://www.chicagofirefc.com/players/dje-d-avilla/), and his contract runs to 31 December 2028 with a one-year club option[2](https://www.transfermarkt.nl/dje-davilla/profil/spieler/890368).
His first MLS season in 2025 was an adjustment period, on and off the pitch, but he finished with 24 league appearances, 2 goals, and 1 assist[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla) • [7](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/chicago-fire-fc-notebook-dje-davilla-gregg-berhalter-jack-elliott-update-international-window-us-open-cup-and-more/). In 2026 he became a regular, starting 23 of 27 MLS appearances and playing 1,948 minutes across the club's 28 fixtures[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla).
**First goal of 2026.** He opened his account for the campaign against the [Portland Timbers](https://www.edgepedia.org/portland-timbers) on August 16, 2026, scoring in a 2-1 victory at [Soldier Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/soldier-field) that was Chicago's fifth consecutive win across all competitions[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla) • [4](https://www.chicagofirefc.com/players/dje-d-avilla/). He and defender Andrew Gutman, who provided the assist, were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 20[4](https://www.chicagofirefc.com/players/dje-d-avilla/).
## Playing style and profile
D'Avilla is a defensive midfielder who can also play centrally; he is right-footed and stands 1.91 m tall[2](https://www.transfermarkt.nl/dje-davilla/profil/spieler/890368). His shirt number, 42, is an homage to the Ivorian former international [Yaya Touré](https://www.edgepedia.org/yaya-toure)[5](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/exclusive-interview-dje-davilla-on-joining-the-chicago-fire-professional-goals/). In an interview after signing, he said he hoped to return to European football in a few years as a better player[5](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/exclusive-interview-dje-davilla-on-joining-the-chicago-fire-professional-goals/).
## References
1. [Djé D'Avilla player page, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/13034/dje-davilla)
2. [Djé D'Avilla profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.nl/dje-davilla/profil/spieler/890368)
3. [Mercado (oficial): Djé D'Avilla deixa o UD Leiria e ruma aos EUA, A Bola](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-oficial-dje-davilla-deixa-o-ud-leiria-e-ruma-aos-eua-2025040116125254397)
4. [Dje D'Avilla, Chicago Fire FC](https://www.chicagofirefc.com/players/dje-d-avilla/)
5. [Exclusive Interview: Dje D'Avilla on Joining the Chicago Fire, On Tap Sports Net](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/exclusive-interview-dje-davilla-on-joining-the-chicago-fire-professional-goals/)
6. [Dje Tah D'Avilla stats and ratings, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/dje-tah-davilla/1444575)
7. [Chicago Fire FC notebook, On Tap Sports Net](https://ontapsportsnet.com/fire/chicago-fire-fc-notebook-dje-davilla-gregg-berhalter-jack-elliott-update-international-window-us-open-cup-and-more/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Africa › West African footballers › Ghanaian and Ivorian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license