Chicago Fire Notebook: Kellyn Acosta, Hugo Cuypers Ready to Work

It’s finally match week in Major League Soccer and the Chicago Fire are heading to Philadelphia for the second consecutive year to take on the Union in the season opener on Saturday.

It’s a new-look Fire team led by offseason acquisitions Kellyn Acosta and Hugo Cuypers, each of whom met with the media alongside sporting director Georg Heitz and head coach Frank Klopas at the club’s 2024 Season Kickoff Luncheon at the Swissotel Chicago.

Acosta and Cuypers expressed optimism about the direction and vision of the Fire that was presented to them in the offseason by Heitz and Klopas, helping drive their respective decisions to sign with Chicago. It was clear everyone involved understands the urgency to perform at a high level in 2024 as the club looks to make the MLS playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Kellyn Acosta

Acosta brings heaps of experience with him to Chicago after having competed in the past two MLS Cup Finals (winning it in 2022) with LAFC. The United States Men’s National Team forward won the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in 2016 with FC Dallas and sees no reason why Chicago shouldn’t compete for trophies in 2024.

“The team last year was just a point off the playoffs,” said Acosta, “and I think we want to be in an environment where we don't want to just participate. We want to compete, and we are going to do ourselves an injustice if we don't compete in every tournament that we are in. There's a chance for four trophies, and I think with this group, we have the ability to win all four."

When asked how this move could affect his legacy going forward, Acosta noted the opportunity to build the Fire into a consistent competitor was a desire of his.

“From my standpoint, I've won I think every trophy in the league besides Champions League. I think, yes, for us as athletes, you always want to build a legacy, and being here is an opportunity to do just that.

“I've been in different environments but like I said, there's something just truly special here. I've never been part of a team where there's a collective voice of really wanting to drive the sport forward in the city.

“And I know the city is eager to have a winning team, right? And it's one of those questions, why not us, right? And like I said, from the first minute of free agency and talking to everyone, it's just an environment I just want to be a part of, and I want to help be that driving force to help bring the Club to the top and to compete and to win.”

The veteran forward was, however, honest about having larger ambitions than simply breaking the Fire’s postseason drought.

“Playoffs should just be the baseline. That's something that we need to be a part of every year.”

Hugo Cuypers

Cuypers is the centerpiece of the Fire’s offseason. The Belgian goalscorer joined Chicago for a club-record fee from Gent and is excited to begin anew across the Atlantic Ocean.

“It's already something I thought would be really nice a couple years back,” said Cuypers, “and then the opportunity came this winter for me, the transfer window, because of the European calendar, to come here. And it was a very conscious decision. Because I think the league is growing; everybody knows it. Everybody sees it. It's also a league that suits my style of play.”

Just 27, he expects to continue to get better as a player after making the move to Chicago.

“I'm at a stage in my career where I needed and I was looking for not only a great project but also an environment where -- because I feel I still have growth potential, and I felt that Chicago was really giving me that environment to progress. And I mean, the efforts they are putting to make the franchise grow are just massive.

It was a bit surprising for some to see Cuypers make the jump to MLS as he enters his age-27 season in 2024. After winning the Golden Boot in Belgium’s top flight with 20 goals in the 2022-2023 season, one would assume a player would want to join a top-five league in Europe. Cuypers had that option last year but the timing and Chicago’s pitch made the deal come together in January.

“I had some options in the summer. But for a transfer to go through, you need the three parties to agree, which was not the case last summer, and this winter (there) was an opening.

“And then speaking with the people here at Chicago, like I said before, the investments they have made are huge. I think when you hear someone as Kellyn [Acosta] speak about the Club, for someone that has been and is a proven player in this league, it's just a confirmation of all the things that's been said to me. And for the rest, I mean, at this point in my career, I felt like this is really an environment where I can win.

“You mentioned the Golden Boot in Belgium, but that's an individual prize. I want my goals to contribute to winning collective prizes, and I really feel that everything has been put in place here to make it happen.”

What's On Tap Next?

The Fire travel to take on the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 24 at 6:30 PM CT. The match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.