Fabian Herbers Bio
Fabian Herbers (born 17 August 1993) is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for CF Montréal in Major League Soccer. Standing 1.84 m tall, he operates primarily as a forward and is comfortable playing as an attacking midfielder when needed. After developing through German youth setups and three seasons of United States college soccer, he launched his professional career in Major League Soccer in 2016.
Herbers came to public attention when Philadelphia Union selected him sixth overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. He went on to spend time with Chicago Fire before signing with CF Montréal as a free agent in January 2025, where he continues his career in the Canadian market.
Early Life and Background
Fabian Herbers was born on 17 August 1993 in Ahaus, Germany. Growing up in the Münsterland region of North Rhine-Westphalia, he was immersed in a strong football culture from an early age. The local sporting environment in western Germany offered a natural pathway into organized youth football.
As a teenager, Herbers progressed through the youth ranks of SC Preußen Münster, one of the traditional clubs in the Münster area. He also spent time in the academy setup at FC Twente in the Netherlands, broadening his tactical and technical foundations before returning to the German lower divisions. This combination of regional German coaching and Dutch-style development shaped the versatile forward he would later become.
Path to Soccer
Herbers moved into senior football with VfL Rhede, where he played during the 2012–2013 season and gained his first taste of regular competitive football at the adult level. The experience confirmed his desire to pursue a professional career and prompted a significant next step: relocating to the United States to play college soccer.
He enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and spent three seasons with the Creighton Bluejays between 2013 and 2015. During his college career, Herbers refined the attacking instincts that had marked him as a prospect in Germany. His performances earned him a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, which allowed him to enter the professional ranks without going through the standard draft eligibility rules tied to college seniors, although he still featured in the 2016 draft class.
Fabian Herbers Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Herbers began his senior career with VfL Rhede during the 2012–2013 season, playing lower-division football in Germany while still developing physically and tactically. The stint offered regular minutes and a chance to test himself in men’s football before crossing the Atlantic.
His subsequent move to Creighton University elevated his profile in North America. Across three college seasons with the Creighton Bluejays from 2013 to 2015, Herbers produced consistent attacking performances and earned Generation Adidas status, setting the stage for the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
Philadelphia Union Era (2016–2018)
Philadelphia Union selected Fabian Herbers sixth overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, marking the start of his MLS journey. He made his Union debut on 6 March 2016, entering as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 loss to FC Dallas. Days later, while on loan to the Union’s development side Bethlehem Steel FC, he scored the franchise’s first-ever goal in a 1–0 win against CF Montréal on 25 March 2016.
Herbers scored his first MLS goal for the Union during a 3–2 victory over Columbus Crew SC on 1 June 2016, finishing in the 83rd minute shortly after coming off the bench. Across 2016 he totaled 32 league appearances, scoring three goals and leading all league rookies with seven assists, and he added a goal and an assist in two U.S. Open Cup appearances. He also split time with Bethlehem Steel FC during the loan spell, finishing his development assignments with the reserve side.
His 2017 season proved frustrating. Herbers made only 15 appearances and suffered a groin injury against the Colorado Rapids on 20 May 2017 before later sustaining a sports hernia that ended his campaign. The Union era concluded in December 2018 when he was traded to Chicago Fire in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
Chicago Fire Era (2019–2024)
On 9 December 2018, Herbers was officially traded to the Chicago Fire, beginning a six-year chapter in the Windy City. During his time in Chicago, he provided veteran depth and rotational minutes across the front line while contributing in league and cup competitions.
Herbers remained with Chicago through the 2024 season before being released at the end of the campaign. The departure opened the door for a fresh start in the Canadian market and ultimately led to his January 2025 move.
CF Montréal Era (2025–Present)
On 3 January 2025, Herbers signed with CF Montréal as a free agent on a two-year deal running through 2027. The move reunited him with CF Montréal in a different capacity; he had previously scored the franchise’s first-ever goal against the club while at Bethlehem Steel FC. He joined the squad wearing jersey number 21 as he entered the new chapter of his career.
Playing Style and Strengths
Herbers is best used as a forward, though he is also capable of operating as an attacking midfielder. His college background at Creighton and his early professional experience as a substitute who produced immediate impact highlight his readiness to influence matches from the bench. Coaches have valued his movement off the ball and his willingness to combine in tight spaces, traits that suit both starter and super-sub roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Herbers scored Bethlehem Steel FC’s first-ever goal in 2016 and led all MLS rookies with seven assists that same season. His rookie-year output of three goals and seven helpers in 32 league appearances remains a benchmark of his early professional production.
Fabian Herbers Career Wins
Across his career in Major League Soccer and its affiliated competitions, Herbers has recorded verified goals and contributions for Philadelphia Union, Bethlehem Steel FC, Chicago Fire and CF Montréal. His most celebrated scoring moment remains the first goal in Bethlehem Steel FC history, while his seven assists as a rookie led the entire 2016 MLS rookie class.
MLS Highlights
Herbers opened his MLS account with a goal versus Columbus Crew SC on 1 June 2016 and finished his rookie season with three goals and seven assists across 32 league appearances. After his trade to Chicago Fire in December 2018, he contributed as a rotational forward over the following six seasons before being released following the 2024 campaign.
Other Wins and Performances
In cup competition, Herbers registered a goal and an assist across two 2016 U.S. Open Cup appearances for Philadelphia Union. Earlier in his pathway, his time at VfL Rhede and Creighton University laid the foundation for his professional trajectory, although those results are not catalogued as senior professional wins.
Fabian Herbers Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Public sources do not provide detailed information about Fabian Herbers’ parents or wider family background. He grew up in Ahaus and rose through regional German football, but specific relatives connected to professional football have not been documented in widely available profiles.
Personal Life
Herbers earned his U.S. green card in July 2017, solidifying his status as a domestic player for Major League Soccer roster purposes. Details about a spouse or children have not been publicly disclosed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Fabian Herbers entered the 2025 Major League Soccer season with CF Montréal after signing a two-year contract in January 2025. The move gave the club an experienced forward to complement its attacking corps, and Herbers slotted into the squad wearing jersey number 21.
As a veteran forward with both European development roots and more than 150 MLS appearances to his name entering the campaign, Herbers was expected to provide rotation minutes, attacking depth and leadership in the locker room. His history of producing immediate impact as a substitute aligned with the role many coaches envisioned for him in Montréal.
With a contract running through 2027, Herbers’ 2025 outlook centers on cementing a regular place in the matchday squad and contributing measurable output as CF Montréal pursue a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs. His combination of German footballing foundations and American professional experience positions him as a steady presence for the club over the next two seasons.