CHICAGO (Jan. 23, 2026) – The UIC men's soccer program announced Friday the signing of four gifted student-athletes who have committed to join the Flames beginning with the Spring 2026 semester. Takeru Chiba, Stefan Dabic, Martin Montoya and Jaime Zani will be the newest members of a UIC squad that is coming off a 10-3-5 season and a trip to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinals under veteran head coach Sean Phillips.

 
Takeru Chiba | 6-2 | Sr. | D | Sendai, Japan | Sendai University Meisei | Cowley County CC | Omaha
 
Phillips on Chiba: "Takeru's experience and technical and tactical abilities will make us better defensively without sacrificing our desire to build from the back. A former teammate of (current UIC defender) Sota Nakazono at Cowley, I expect him to fit very well into our group of returning players."
 
Before UIC: Name is pronounced TOCK-uh-roo CHEE-buh … played the 2025 season at Omaha, starting all 16 matches for the Mavericks and playing 1,329 minutes (third on the team) and 10 complete matches while contributing to a pair of shutouts … notched a shot on goal in Omaha's Aug. 24 match against Florida Atlantic … started his collegiate career with two seasons (2023 and 2024) at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., appearing in 42 of a possible 43 matches and starting 41 times … third-team NJCAA Division I All-American, first-team all-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and team co-captain in 2024, when Cowley advanced to the program's first NJCAA national championship match (falling on penalties to Iowa Western) … the program also earned a pair of district titles and a conference championship during Chiba's career … collected three goals and three assists (nine points) during his junior college career, posting 26 total shots (10 on goal) in that span … also helped the Tigers post 32 wins and 22 shutouts during his two years … Chiba and current UIC defender Nakazono were teammates at Cowley both seasons … matriculated from Sendai University Meisei in his hometown of Sendai, Japan, while also playing for a youth squad for the Vegalta Sendai club in the Japanese J-League Second Division.
 

Stefan Dabic | 6-3 | Fr. | D | Chicago, Ill. | Jones College Prep
 
Phillips on Dabic: "Stefan is a local player who has been developing nicely over the past few years. A central defender with a good frame and soft feet, I expect him to add depth, competition, and physical presence to our returning experienced back line."
 
Before UIC: Towering center back returns home to Chicago after spending time overseas in Serbia in 2025 … competed with the U18 team of FK Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) before playing with FK 011 Beograd's U19 team up until January … graduated in 2025 from Jones College Prep, where he was a two-time all-conference selection and Defensive Player of the Year while also being named All-City and All-Sectional … competed for Chicago Magic (ECNL) and FC United (MLS Next) at the club level.
 
 
Martin Montoya | 5-7 | Jr. | M | Hinsdale, Ill. | Hinsdale Central HS | Northern Illinois
 
Phillips on Montoya: "Martin, a clever left-sided attacker, brings two seasons of Division I experience to our team. His proven ability to score goals, provide assists and unbalance the opponents will be a great asset to our team as we look to build our attack for the fall."
 
Before UIC: Attended Northern Illinois University the past two years (2024 and 2025), appearing in 27 matches and starting seven times … registered seven goals and four assists (18 points) while logging 33 shots (18 on goal) … this past year, had five goals and three assists … scored twice in NIU's Nov. 5 win over Bowling Green that gave the Huskies a share of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title … netted the match-winning goal to help a 10-man NIU squad defeat Notre Dame, 2-1 on Oct. 21 … factored into both Huskies' scores (one goal, one assist) in 2-1 victory over Bradley on Oct. 4 … also had a goal against Western Illinois (Aug. 28) and assists at Milwaukee (Aug. 21) and at home vs. Eastern Illinois (Sept. 16) … scored twice as a freshman in 2024 against Chicago State (Aug. 25) and Drake (Nov. 1) — added an assist against CSU and was the first NIU rookie to score in his debut since 2022 … graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Ill., where he was a two-time first-team all-West Suburban Conference selection and a 2023 all-sectional pick … collected 22 goals and 22 assists in his three prep seasons, including 12 goals and 10 assists as a senior in 2023 … also played club soccer with Eclipse Select SC.
 
 
Jaime Zani | 6-0 | Sr. | F | Valladolid, Spain | Central CC | LSU Shreveport
 
Phillips on Zani: "Jaime is a proven goal scorer at the NJCAA and NAIA levels who looks to get in behind the opponent, score goals and create opportunities for his teammates. His proven ability to score goals and creating opportunities for his teammates at the collegiate level will be a great asset to our team."

Before UIC: Spent the 2025 season at LSU Shreveport, helping the Pilots advance to the NAIA Tournament Round of 16 (eliminated on penalties) and a No. 12 year-end national ranking (team had been ranked in the top 10 most of the season) … played in all 22 matches for LSUS, starting 19 times and finishing with 11 goals and 11 assists (33 points), along with 43 total shots (30 on goal) and three match-winning goals … earned United Soccer Coaches All-West Region and first-team all-Red River Athletic Conference honors after finishing in the top five in the conference in assists (2^nd), goals (tied-4^th), points (4^th) and shots (5^th) … also a two-time RRAC Offensive Player of the Week last season … had a pair of two-goal matches (Aug. 30 vs. Southwestern Christian and Oct. 23 vs. LSU Alexandria) … posted a career-high three assists and five points at Jarvis Christian (Oct. 16), duplicating that point production a week later at LSU Alexandria … assisted on tying goal in 89^th minute of NAIA Tournament second-round match vs. Faulkner (Ala.), leading to win in overtime … began his collegiate career with two seasons (2023 and 2024) at Central Community College in Columbus, Neb., where he played in 32 matches (starting 22) while tallying 22 goals and five assists (49 points) on 97 shots with four match-winning goals … earned third-team NJCAA Division II All-America and first-team all-Region IX honors as a sophomore in 2024 when he erupted for 16 goals and four assists (36 points) … scored in 12 different matches that season, including two-goal outings at Northwest Iowa CC (Aug. 24), at home vs. Pratt CC (Sept. 28), at Southeast CC (Oct. 9) and at home vs. Allen County CC (Oct. 16) … tacked on single assists for a career-high five points in both the Northwest Iowa and Pratt matches.
 
For more information on UIC men's soccer, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MSOC and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_msoc and @uicflames).