Chicago Fire defender Brandon Vincent, 24, retires from Major League Soccer

Chicago Fire defender Brandon Vincent announced his retirement Tuesday after only three professional seasons.

"Today I am announcing that, effective at the end of the year, I will be retiring from professional soccer," Vincent wrote in a statement on Twitter. "This may come as a surprise to many, but I'm at a time in my life where it is best for me to move on from the game."

Vincent, 24, was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft after growing up in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for Real So Cal and earning first-team All-American honors at Stanford.

He made 32 appearance this season, recording a goal and four assists, and also made one appearance for the U.S. men's national team. Chicago missed the playoffs, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference with 32 points and an 8-18-8 record.

Vincent finishes his MLS career with three goals and 12 assists in 85 games, including 81 starts. He was named the No. 8 "youngster" in 2017 by MLS writer Greg Seltzer.

"Chicago will always be a special place to me and I am forever grateful for the privilege I had of wearing the jersey and representing the city," Vincent wrote. "I wish the club the best of luck and future success.

"Thanks for the incredible memories, Chicago! I can't wait to see what life brings next."