Hugo Cuypers Delivering on Chicago Fire's Expectations in 2025

The Chicago Fire are getting what they paid for in 2025 with Hugo Cuypers.

Chicago’s club-record signing from before the 2024 MLS season, Cuypers has taken the next step as a striker in 2025 as the Fire have won three straight matches ahead of hosting CF Montréal at Soldier Field.

Cuypers, 28, is second in MLS with five goals (half of the ten he scored in 2024) and has scored in each of the Fire’s last four matches, which includes three wins and a draw against DC United at home when Chicago’s number nine scored on each side of halftime. Cuypers’ leads Major League Soccer with 4.8 expected goals, per fbref, through five matches despite missing all of the Fire’s preseason fixtures due to injury and fitness issues.

Cuypers isn’t surprised that he’s thriving in the new system implemented by Chicago Fire Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter.

“[Berhalter’s] whole vision is about creating a lot of chances, being an offensive team, and I think it's what every striker wants: Creating not only as many chances as possible but the best quality of chances, as well,” Cuypers told reporters before the club’s trip to Vancouver. “I think we have done a pretty good job so far.”

Chicago’s offseason included plenty of turnover on the soccer side, and the Fire signed plenty of talent away from Europe, including the likes of Philip Zinckernagel, Jonathan Bamba, Rominigue Kouamé, and Leonardo Barroso. When Cuypers signed with Chicago, he was the lone Fire player making that same transition from Europe on a permanent deal. Having done that on his own, Cuypers wanted to be that resource for his new teammates as they adjusted to life in MLS.

“One of my biggest challenges last year was all the adaptations coming in from Europe, and to the U.S. There was a lot of admin that had to be done, a lot of planning into finding a new home and moving. So, I knew how challenging it would be for them, and just me telling them that if there was anything they needed or just telling them that a couple things were coming their way, that maybe they didn't expect.

“I think for them, it made it a little bit easier. But there are still obviously things I can't do for them, but I think being a support is a big help for them.”

Cuypers told reporters that he didn’t think the club needed to make a statement ahead of playing a then-unbeaten Vancouver Whitecaps side, but the sum of collecting all nine points from a three-match road trip speaks for itself.