Newly acquired Chad Barrett has five goals so far in the 2008 season. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Toronto FC is getting striker Chad Barrett and a first-round pick in the 2009 Major League Soccer draft from the Chicago Fire in exchange for veteran Brian McBride, in a deal officially announced on Wednesday.

The two sides had been talking about the deal for several weeks, with the agreement being hammered out in the past seven days. Barrett even accompanied Toronto FC this week for its road game Monday in Salt Lake City.

Toronto owned the rights to McBride, but after finishing play in England, the 36-year-old wanted to play in the MLS in his hometown of Chicago.

"The Fire has brought back a wonderful striker and we're getting in return a promising young striker, as well as a first-round draft pick," said Toronto manager Mo Johnson. "It was important that we received the No. 1 pick in this deal, and hopefully it will serve us well in the future."

Barrett, 23, could help with Toronto's offensive woes. He scored five goals in the first two months of this season before hitting a drought with the Fire.

He has 13 goals and 20 assists in an MLS career that began in 2005 after playing at UCLA.

Barrett, who was born in San Diego but grew up in Oregon, has also represented the United States at several international competitions.

McBride spent over four years with Fulham in the English Premier League after becoming one of the first American stars in the MLS. McBride spent eight years with the Columbus Crew.

Toronto dropped a 2-1 result to Real Salt Lake on Monday, extending a winless streak to five games.

Toronto FC returns to action with a home game at BMO Field on Sunday against FC Dallas (CBC Sports, CBCSports.ca, CBC Bold, 4 p.m. ET).