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Hugo Cuypers
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Hugo Cuypers (born 7 February 1997) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
Key Information
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Club career
[edit]Youth
[edit]Cuypers began his career at Zwaluw Vechmaal, followed by fourth-tier Belgian side Excelsior Veldwezelt.[1] When the latter went bankrupt in 2012, Cuypers moved to Visé.[2] He played for Les Oies for three seasons, and was eventually picked up by Belgian top tier side Standard Liège in the summer of 2014, when Visé also went bankrupt.
Standard Liège
[edit]After his move to Les Rouches, Cuypers' made an impression in his debut season for the club's U−19 outfit, scoring 31 times and dishing out 13 assists.[2] He added an additional 2 goals with Standard Liège U−21,[1] thus drawing the interest of several European top clubs.[2] In June 2015, Cuypers signed a new two-year contract with Standard Liège and made his professional debut on 3 April 2016, coming in as a late substitute for Renaud Emond during the play-off II home match vs. Waasland-Beveren.[2]
RFC Seraing (loan)
[edit]On 31 October 2016, Cuypers was loaned out to Belgian First Amateur Division side Seraing.[3] He managed to score six goals in a total of nineteen caps during his loan spell.[4]
Ergotelis
[edit]In the summer of 2017, Cuypers was acquired by Greek Football League side Ergotelis, owned by Egyptian businessman Maged Samy, who also owned Belgian second tier side Lierse at the time.[5] Despite rumors of a possible loan move to Lierse,[6] Cuypers signed a two-year contract with the Cretans and joined Ergotelis' pre-season build-up at Karpenisi.[7]
During his first season with the Cretans, Cuypers became a permanent starter and made an immediate impact for his new club, scoring three goals in the first four matches of the 2017–18 Greek Football League during a 1−1 draw vs. Chania − Kissamikos on 5 November 2017,[8] a 2−1 loss vs. Panachaiki on 12 November 2017,[9] and a 2−3 loss vs. Aris on 19 November 2017.[10] Despite Ergotelis' rough start and early struggle to avoid relegation, Cuypers became the club's most prolific player, strongly following up on his early performances by scoring goals on a regular basis and eventually "victimizing" 14 out of the total 16 opponents faced by Ergotelis during the season. He had his first two-goal performance vs. Veria on 21 January 2018,[11] a feat he repeated on 1 April against fellow relegation candidates Panegialios during a decisive 5−1 home win for the Cretans.[12] At the end of the first round, Cuypers had already scored 11 goals in 16 games and by match-day 27 he had tallied up 20 goals, almost single-handedly giving his club a chance of staying in the division. He became the first player to score over 20 goals for Ergotelis in one season in 12 years, a feat which earned Cuypers a spot in the club's list of all-time top-scorers in Greek professional division. On 20 May 2018 Cuypers scored his fourth brace during the season, in a 5−1 home win against Aiginiakos, which cemented his team's place above the relegation zone.[13] After scoring 22 goals in 28 caps, Cuypers became the most productive player in club history in the competition, surpassing Ergotelis' all-time scoring legend Patrick Ogunsoto's 21-goal season performance in 2006. His performances reportedly drew the attention of several Greek top-tier clubs as a result,[14] including newly-crowned Superleague champions AEK Athens,[15] who reportedly placed a €380,000 bid for the player, along with offering two of the club's players on loan to the Cretans.[16] However, despite reports of the two teams reaching a deal, the transfer fell through after both Cuypers and manager Jacques Lichtenstein gave statements to the Belgian press, which ruled out any transfer to AEK Athens, reportedly due to «lack of respect».[17] He subsequently failed to report for Ergotelis' 2018−19 pre-season preparation and effectively placed himself out of the team.[18]
Olympiacos
[edit]On 18 June 2019, Cuypers joined Olympiacos signing a three years' contract for an undisclosed fee. During the 2018–19 season, the Belgian forward didn’t play in a single match for Ergotelis, as the Cretan club finished in fourth place of the Football League to miss out on promotion.[19]
On 17 August 2019, Cuypers joined Ajaccio on a season-long loan from Olympiacos.[20]
Mechelen
[edit]On 4 June 2021, Mechelen has announced Cuypers and according to the publications, Olympiacos will receive €1 million for the transfer, and will keep a 50% in a possible resale.[21] On 14 June 2021, his transfer to Mechelen, in which he signed a four-year contract, was officially concluded, following an official announcement from Olympiacos.[22]
Gent
[edit]On 14 June 2022, Cuypers signed a four-year contract with Gent.
In the year 2022 he scored 30 goals in 45 games, and in the year 2023 he scored 32 goals in 44 games. Entering the Top Ten of the top scorers of the year 2023 [23]
Chicago Fire FC
[edit]On 6 February 2024, Cuypers signed a contract with Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire FC through 2026 with an option for 2027 for a club record fee.[24]
He finished his first season at the club with 10 goals in 31 matches, being the team's top scorer.[25]
International career
[edit]Cuypers has represented Belgium with the U−19 national team during the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification. He played in all three matches during the Elite round of the competition, scoring one goal vs. Bulgaria in his only match as a starter.[4]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of matches played 14 September 2025[4]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Standard Liège | 2015–16 | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| RFC Seraing (loan) | 2016–17 | Belgian First Amateur Division | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 6 | ||
| Ergotelis | 2017–18 | Football League Greece | 28 | 22 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 22 | ||
| Ajaccio (loan) | 2019–20 | Ligue 2 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 5 | ||
| Olympiacos | 2020–21 | Super League Greece | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| Mechelen | 2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 13 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 13 | ||
| Gent | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 39 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 13[b] | 6 | 1[c] | 0 | 56 | 34 |
| 2023–24 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 11[d] | 10 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 17 | ||
| Total | 59 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 51 | ||
| Chicago Fire | 2024 | MLS | 31 | 10 | — | — | — | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2025 | MLS | 28 | 16 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 31 | 18 | |||
| Total | 59 | 26 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 62 | 28 | ||||
| Career total | 232 | 106 | 18 | 5 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 275 | 127 | ||
- ^ Includes Greek Football Cup, Coupe de France, Belgian Cup, U.S. Open Cup
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, eleven appearances and six goals in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- ^ appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
Honours
[edit]Standard Liège
Olympiacos
Individual
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Nieuw contract voor Hugo CUYPERS" (in Dutch). Academie Robert Louis-Dreyfus. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Van failliete vierdeklasser naar Standard: het indrukwekkende verhaal van Cuypers" (in Dutch). voetbalprimeur.be. 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Mercato : Hugo Cuypers arrive en prêt" (in French). voetbalprimeur.be. 31 October 2016.
- ^ a b c Hugo Cuypers at Soccerway
- ^ "Hugo Cuypers naar Ergotelis FC" (in Dutch). Standard Liege. 31 August 2017.
- ^ "VN EXCLUSIEF: Spits van Standard trekt naar Belgische club" (in Dutch). voetbalnieuws.be. 28 August 2017.
- ^ "Τριπλή ανακοίνωση για τον Εργοτέλη" (in Greek). gazetta.gr. 1 September 2017.
- ^ "Αναφορά αγώνα ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ − ΑΟΧ ΚΙΣΣΑΜΙΚΟΣ" (in Greek). footballleaguenews.gr. 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Αναφορά αγώνα ΠΑΝΑΧΑΪΚΗ − ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ" (in Greek). footballleaguenews.gr. 12 November 2017.
- ^ "Αναφορά αγώνα ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ − ΑΡΗΣ" (in Greek). footballleaguenews.gr. 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Σεφτέ με Κάιπερς!" (in Greek). footballleaguenews.gr. 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Αναφορά αγώνα ΕΡΓΟΤΕΛΗΣ − ΠΑΝΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΟΣ" (in Greek). footballleaguenews.gr. 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Σώθηκε ο Εργοτέλης, όλα ανοιχτά για τρεις...!" (in Greek). Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ ""Super League για Κάιπερς"" (in Greek). footballleaguenews.gr. 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Ο δεδομένος Αλμπάνης και η ερώτηση για Κάιπερς!!" (in Greek). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Επιβεβαιώνουν από τον Εργοτέλη την πώληση Κάιπερς στην ΑΕΚ" (in Greek). 18 May 2018.
- ^ "CUYPERS REFUSES TO PLAY FOR AEK AFTER FEE AGREED WITH ERGOTELIS" (in Greek). 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Άφαντος ο Καϊπερς…". athleticradio.gr (in Greek). 20 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "Κάιπερς: "Τεράστια υπερηφάνεια που θα παίξω στον Ολυμπιακό"" (in Greek). sport24.gr. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- ^ "Abdoulaye Keita et Hugo Cuypers prêtes par l'Olympiakos". ac-ajaccio.corsica (in French). 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "Ο Κάιπερς συμφώνησε με τη Μαλίν" (in Greek). to10.gr. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Ολυμπιακός: Ολοκληρώθηκε η μεταγραφή του Κάιπερς στη Μαλίν" [Olympiacos: the transfer of Cuypers to Malinois is completed]. sport-fm.gr (in Greek). 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "HUGO CUYPERS IS NEN BUFFALO!" (in Dutch). Gent. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Belgian Forward Hugo Cuypers as Designated Player for Club-Record Fee". Chicago Fire FC. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "MLS Player Stats – Goals". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
External links
[edit]Hugo Cuypers
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Club career
Youth career
Hugo Cuypers was born on 7 February 1997 in Liège, Belgium.[10] He developed an early passion for football in the Liège region and began his youth career at the local amateur club FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal, joining around age six in 2003.[2] Cuypers progressed to fourth-division side Excelsior Veldwezelt in 2009, where he honed his skills as a forward until the club filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in December 2012 amid financial difficulties.[2][11] Following this disruption, he transferred to nearby CS Visé later that year, continuing his development for two seasons in the club's youth setup until Visé also declared bankruptcy in October 2014 due to unpaid wages and debts.[2][12] In the summer of 2014, Cuypers joined the prestigious youth academy of Standard Liège, where he trained and competed until 2016.[2] There, under academy coaching, he made a strong impression in his first U-19 season, netting 31 goals and recording 13 assists, performances that highlighted his scoring prowess and paved the way for his professional breakthrough.[13]Standard Liège
Hugo Cuypers signed his first professional contract with Standard Liège on 1 July 2015, agreeing to a two-year deal as an 18-year-old prospect from the club's youth academy.[14][15] This extension recognized his potential as a promising forward, having impressed in the youth ranks with his goal-scoring ability and physical presence, though he remained primarily focused on development within the reserve team during the 2015–16 season.[3] Cuypers made his senior debut for Standard Liège on 3 April 2016, entering as a late substitute in the 78th minute during a Jupiler Pro League match against Waasland-Beveren, which the club won 2–1.[16] He played the final 12 minutes without scoring, marking his only first-team appearance for the club.[17] Throughout the season, Cuypers occasionally featured on the bench for senior matches, serving as a developmental option amid a competitive forward line, but limited opportunities highlighted his status as an emerging talent still building experience.[13] In total, Cuypers recorded one appearance and zero goals during his time with Standard Liège's first team.[17] Seeking more playing time, he was subsequently loaned to RFC Seraing in the Belgian third division later that year.[7]Seraing (loan)
On 31 August 2016, Hugo Cuypers joined RFC Seraing on loan from Standard Liège until the end of the 2016–17 season, providing him with an opportunity for regular playing time in the Belgian First Amateur Division. During his stint, Cuypers featured in 19 matches across all competitions, scoring 6 goals and contributing to the team's attacking efforts in the third tier.[17][18] His goals helped Seraing secure a solid mid-table position, finishing 7th in the promotion playoff group with 48 points from 30 league matches, narrowly missing out on a chance for promotion to the professional leagues. One notable contribution came in a 2–1 away victory against Heist on 4 March 2017, where his involvement in the attack supported the team's push for a playoff spot.[19] Cuypers returned to Standard Liège at the conclusion of the loan in June 2017.Ergotelis
In the summer of 2017, Hugo Cuypers transferred from Standard Liège to Ergotelis in Greece's second tier, the Football League, signing a two-year contract.[20] During the 2017–18 season, Cuypers established himself as Ergotelis' primary striker, making 28 league appearances and scoring 22 goals while providing 3 assists, which earned him the distinction of being the Football League's top scorer.[21][22] His goal tally marked the highest for any Ergotelis player in a single season in over a decade, highlighting his rapid adaptation to the physical and tactical demands of Greek football despite the challenges of transitioning from Belgian amateur leagues. Cuypers also featured in 2 Greek Cup matches without scoring, contributing to the team's group stage exit.[21] Cuypers' scoring prowess was evident in key fixtures, including a goal against PAE Veria—a club recently relegated from the Super League—in a 2–0 away victory, where he netted in the 44th minute to open the scoring.[23] He delivered consistent performances against other competitive sides like Aris Thessaloniki and Panachaiki, often finding the net in high-stakes encounters that helped Ergotelis secure mid-table stability, finishing 9th in the league. These contributions underscored his breakthrough as a prolific forward in professional football. Cuypers' standout season at Ergotelis, culminating in his top-scorer accolade, directly influenced his subsequent high-profile move to Olympiacos in the Super League the following summer.Olympiacos
In June 2019, Hugo Cuypers transferred from Ergotelis to Olympiacos on a permanent deal, marking a step up to one of Greece's most prominent clubs.[24][25] Shortly after signing, he was loaned out to AC Ajaccio in Ligue 2 for the 2019–20 season to gain further experience, during which he scored 5 goals in 22 league appearances.[26][10] Cuypers returned to Olympiacos in July 2020 ahead of the 2020–21 campaign. During that season in the Greek Super League, he made 10 appearances, starting 4 matches and accumulating 329 minutes on the pitch, while scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist.[10] His contributions, though modest in volume, formed part of the squad that secured the Greek Super League championship in April 2021, Olympiacos' 46th domestic title.[27] Despite the team's success, Cuypers faced stiff competition for playing time from established forwards, resulting in limited opportunities and ultimately leading to his departure from the club in 2021.[10]Mechelen
In July 2021, Hugo Cuypers returned to Belgian football by joining KV Mechelen from Olympiacos on a four-year contract for a transfer fee of €3.1 million.[28] This move brought him back to the Jupiler Pro League after stints abroad, allowing him to leverage his prior European experience as a versatile forward.[7] During the 2021–22 season, Cuypers established himself as a key attacking threat for Mechelen, making 35 appearances in the Belgian Pro League and scoring 13 goals while providing 10 assists across all competitions.[29] His goals included crucial strikes against top sides like Club Brugge and Anderlecht, where he netted in high-stakes matches to secure vital points, and his assists often set up teammate Kerim Mrabti for scoring opportunities.[30] As the team's leading scorer, Cuypers played a pivotal role in Mechelen's solid mid-table campaign, helping them finish 7th in the regular season standings with 50 points from 30 matches and advance to the Europe Play-offs. Cuypers' consistent goal-scoring form and overall impact—finishing among the league's top 20 scorers—drew attention from bigger Belgian clubs, culminating in his subsequent transfer to Gent the following summer.[7]Gent
Cuypers joined Gent from Mechelen on 30 June 2022, signing a four-year contract for a transfer fee of €4.6 million.[31][32] In the 2022–23 season, Cuypers enjoyed a breakout campaign, scoring 22 goals in 40 league appearances and a total of 29 goals across all competitions in 56 appearances, earning him the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot as the top scorer.[3][7] His prolific form included key contributions in Gent's UEFA Europa Conference League run, where he scored against teams like Istanbul Başakşehir and West Ham United, helping the club reach the quarter-finals and secure a fifth-place league finish that qualified them for the following season's European competition.[7][33] During the 2023–24 season before departing in February 2024, Cuypers added 13 goals and four assists in 24 appearances across competitions.[3] Over his time at Gent, he tallied 42 goals in 68 matches, with standout performances such as braces in European qualifiers and domestic fixtures that bolstered the team's push for continental spots. In February 2024, Cuypers transferred to Chicago Fire FC.[3]Chicago Fire FC
On February 6, 2024, Chicago Fire FC acquired Hugo Cuypers from Gent for a club-record transfer fee of $12 million, with an additional $2 million in potential add-ons, signing him as a Designated Player through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.[7][5][34] This deal, one of the highest in Major League Soccer history at the time, was driven by Cuypers' prior scoring prowess in Belgium, where he led the Jupiler Pro League with 22 goals in the 2022-23 season.[7] In his inaugural 2024 MLS season, Cuypers quickly established himself as a focal point of the Fire's attack, appearing in 31 regular-season matches (all starts) for 2,617 minutes while scoring 10 goals and recording 2 assists.[10] His contributions earned him the Chicago Fire's MVP award and the team's Golden Boot as the leading scorer, highlighting his immediate value despite the club's overall struggles that year.[35] Cuypers' adaptation to MLS's high-intensity, transition-oriented style emphasized his movement off the ball, aerial presence, and finishing under pressure, allowing him to integrate effectively into a squad seeking offensive stability.[36] In 2025, Cuypers built on his foundation with enhanced consistency, scoring 19 goals and adding 2 assists in 36 regular-season matches (all starts) as of November 2025, alongside 2 goals in 3 U.S. Open Cup appearances.[10] Cuypers contributed in the MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring in the Round One series against the Philadelphia Union, including a goal in a 2-2 draw on October 26, 2025, though the Fire lost the series. Over his first two seasons with the Fire, he has logged 67 regular-season appearances, tallying 29 goals and 4 assists as of November 2025, which have been instrumental in elevating the team's standing from perennial underperformers to playoff contenders.[8][37][38]International career
Youth international career
Hugo Cuypers earned his first call-up to the Belgium under-19 national team in early 2016, marking the beginning of his limited but promising youth international career as a forward prospect. During the UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification campaign that year, Cuypers featured prominently in the team's group stage matches, making three appearances and contributing one goal.[18] His goal came during these fixtures, highlighting his role as an emerging striker capable of impacting games at the youth level. Belgium's group included strong opponents such as Sweden, the Republic of Ireland, and Italy, where Cuypers played as a central forward, often starting and accumulating approximately 140 minutes on the pitch.[18] Additionally, he made one appearance in a friendly against Denmark on 2 March 2016, scoring in a 1–1 draw.[9] These appearances represented Cuypers' only experience with Belgium's youth teams, providing formative exposure without further progression to senior international level to date.[9]Senior international career
Hugo Cuypers has not earned a senior cap for the Belgium national team as of November 2025.[9] Despite his prolific scoring record at club level, including winning the 2022–23 Jupiler Pro League Golden Boot with 27 goals for Gent, he has yet to receive a call-up to the senior Red Devils squad.[39] His continued success in Major League Soccer, where he has emerged as one of the league's top forwards with 19 goals for Chicago Fire FC in the 2025 season, has also failed to prompt selection.[40] Under head coach Rudi Garcia, who assumed control in January 2025, Belgium's forward positions have remained highly competitive, dominated by established stars such as Romelu Lukaku and Loïs Openda, alongside emerging talents from top European clubs.[41][42] This depth has left several domestic forwards uncapped, including Cuypers, who competes for spots against players like Michy Batshuayi and Dodi Lukébakio.[43] Recent call-ups, such as the first senior inclusions of forward Romeo Vermant in November 2025 for World Cup qualifiers, highlight Garcia's emphasis on integrating young prospects, yet Cuypers has not been among those chosen.[44] Having previously represented Belgium at youth international level, Cuypers' path to the senior team has been blocked by the nation's wealth of attacking options and the preference for players based in elite European leagues.[9] Media discussions in Belgian outlets have occasionally speculated on his potential inclusion following his Golden Boot triumph and MLS exploits, but no concrete opportunities have materialized.[7]Career statistics
Club statistics
Hugo Cuypers has amassed a total of 283 club appearances, 128 goals, and 38 assists across all competitions as of November 2025.[21] The following table summarizes his statistics by club, focusing on his professional career from 2015 onward:| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Liège | 2015–2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seraing (loan) | 2016–2017 | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| Ergotelis | 2017–2019 | 30 | 22 | 3 |
| AC Ajaccio (loan) | 2019–2020 | 24 | 5 | 6 |
| Olympiacos | 2020–2021 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| Mechelen | 2021–2022 | 36 | 13 | 10 |
| Gent | 2022–2024 | 90 | 51 | 13 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 2024–2025 | 69 | 29 | 4 |
| Career Total | 2015–2025 | 283 | 128 | 38 |
International statistics
Cuypers has earned no caps for the Belgium senior national team as of November 2025.[9] His youth international career was limited to the under-19 level, where he made four appearances and scored one goal during 2016, primarily in UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers and a friendly.[9]| National Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium U19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 183 | 2016 |