Even though they’re pushing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Fire has announced the sale of 2008 Best XI defender Bakary Soumare to Ligue 1 side Boulogne for a reported fee of $2.14 Million.

Via Goal.com 

We would like to thank Bakary Soumare for his contributions to this club and wish him the best in his future playing career,” said Chicago technical director Frank Klopas.

The 23-year-old won Chicago’s defender of the year award last year as well as making the Major League Soccer Best XI, helping his club reach the Western Conference finals. At 6′4, Soumare is a towering and physically imposing central defender with a good read of the game.

His position with the Fire became untenable when he had a physical altercation with Chicago head coach Denis Hamlett on August 9. At halftime of the loss against the Houston Dynamo, the two shoved each other and Soumare ripped the shirt of his coach. Soumare did not return of the second half and has not suited up for the team since.

“He is not 100 percent committed to this team, so as a result, I’m not going to put a player on the field that’s not committed to the organization and his teammates,” Hamlett said to the Chicago-Sun Times. “We have to make sure he’s committed to the team and the organization, and that’s the starting point.”

Soumare left shortly after the Houston game to join up with the Mali international team.

Boulogne earned promotion to the Ligue 1 last season and has two wins and one draw in league play thus far this season.

Image via Bp