Fire’s Cuypers bound for Monterrey

Current MLS Golden Boot leader set to leave Fire for Liga MX.

CHICAGO, IL–Those who were looking forward to Robert Lewandowski lining up alongside Hugo Cuypers will be sorely disappointed. Hugo Cuypers is set to leave Chicago Fire FC for Monterrey of Liga MX on a $7.5 million transfer fee with $500,ooo in add-ons–a significant loss on the $12 million fee the Fire paid to bring in Cuypers from Belgian side Gent. Cuypers, 29, leads MLS in goals with 13 this season in 989 minutes.

The Fire signed Lewandowski on June 29th as a designated player. Cuypers’s departure was forecasted soon thereafter as The Athletic reported that MLS clubs, including St. Louis City SC, were interested. The departure of Cuypers does open up a designated player spot for the Fire alongside Lewandowski and Jonathan Bamba as well as an international roster spot. However, Bamba has not played since May 13th.

Lewandowski was anticipated to make his debut last Thursday against Vancouver at home, but the match was postponed due to poor air quality in the city stemming from wildfires in Northern Ontario. Lewandowski’s first match is likely now to be this coming Wednesday at Inter Miami (6:30pm CT, Apple TV) and his home debut expected now to be Saturday, August 1st, against Charlotte FC (7:30pm CT, Apple TV).

COMMENT: Letting go the league’s leading goalscorer, and also one the main reasons that the Fire have discovered recent success, is a big gamble. Lewandowski’s penchant for scoring is well-known, but so has the Fire’s reputation for swinging and missing on DPs (Cupyers not withstanding). The Fire need to hit a home run on this one as they still need all the momentum as they look forward to the opening of McDonald’s Park (which Lewandowski may or may not play at by that time) in 2028.