Hugo Cuypers Bio
Hugo Cuypers is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. Born on 7 February 1997 in Liège, Belgium, Cuypers has built his reputation as a reliable goal-scorer across several European leagues before moving to the United States. He has developed a reputation as a formidable forward, capable of leading the line for clubs competing in top divisions in Belgium, Greece, and France.
Early Life and Background
Hugo Cuypers was born on 7 February 1997 in Liège, Belgium, a city known across the country for producing competitive athletes. Growing up in a region with a strong football culture, Cuypers was introduced to the sport at a young age through local youth setups. He stands 1.85 m tall, a frame that has served him well in the physically demanding role of a forward.
Cuypers began his early football journey with Zwaluw Vechmaal, a small local club that provided his first organized playing environment. He later moved to fourth-tier Belgian side Excelsior Veldwezelt, where he continued to develop his game. When Excelsior Veldwezelt went bankrupt in 2012, Cuypers had to find a new home, and he joined Visé, where he would spend the next three formative seasons of his youth career.
Path to Soccer
At Visé, Cuypers sharpened his skills and adapted to the demands of competitive youth football in Belgium. His consistent performances at the club attracted attention from bigger sides, but Visé itself went bankrupt, opening the door for a higher-profile move. In the summer of 2014, Cuypers was picked up by Belgian top-tier side Standard Liège, a club with a reputation for developing young talent.
Cuypers made an immediate impression in Standard Liège’s youth setup. During his debut season with the club’s U-19 side, he scored 31 goals and added 13 assists, numbers that drew the interest of several European clubs. He also contributed two goals at the U-21 level, reinforcing his status as one of the most promising young forwards in the country. In June 2015, he signed a new two-year contract with Standard Liège, signaling the club’s long-term belief in his potential.
Hugo Cuypers Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Cuypers made his professional debut on 3 April 2016, coming in as a late substitute for Renaud Emond during Standard Liège’s play-off II home match against Waasland-Beveren. Although opportunities at Standard’s senior level were limited, his progress in the youth teams suggested a bright future. On 31 October 2016, the club decided to give him senior minutes elsewhere and sent him on loan to Belgian First Amateur Division side Seraing.
During his time at Seraing, Cuypers showed the scoring instincts that would later define his career. He managed six goals in nineteen appearances, a healthy return for a young forward adjusting to regular senior football. The loan gave him the experience he needed and prepared him for his first full-time move abroad the following summer.
Ergotelis Breakthrough (2017–2018)
In the summer of 2017, Cuypers was acquired by Greek Football League side Ergotelis, owned by Egyptian businessman Maged Samy. Despite speculation about a possible loan move to Lierse, he signed a two-year contract with the Cretan club and joined their pre-season camp at Karpenisi. The move abroad marked a major step in his development as a professional.
Cuypers became an immediate starter at Ergotelis and scored three goals in his first four matches of the 2017–18 Greek Football League campaign. As the club battled to avoid relegation, he emerged as the team’s most prolific player, scoring against 14 of the 16 opponents faced during the season. He tallied 20 goals by match-day 27 and finished the year with 22 goals in 28 caps, surpassing Ergotelis legend Patrick Ogunsoto’s 21-goal season record from 2006 to become the most productive player in the club’s history in the competition. A reported €380,000 bid from Greek champions AEK Athens collapsed after Cuypers and the club’s management publicly ruled out a move, and he later failed to report for Ergotelis’ 2018–19 pre-season, effectively ending his time with the Cretans.
Olympiacos and Ajaccio (2019–2021)
On 18 June 2019, Cuypers joined Greek giants Olympiacos, signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. However, his time at Olympiacos started on the sidelines, and during the 2018–19 season, he did not play a single match for Ergotelis. To get him regular minutes, Olympiacos sent him on a season-long loan to French Ligue 2 side Ajaccio on 17 August 2019, where he gained further experience in a new league and country.
Mechelen Era (2021–2022)
On 4 June 2021, Mechelen announced the signing of Cuypers, with Olympiacos set to receive €1 million and retain a 50% sell-on clause. The transfer was officially completed on 14 June 2021, with Cuypers signing a four-year contract with the Belgian club. The move brought him back to his home country and provided a platform to showcase his abilities in a familiar environment.
Gent Era (2022–2024)
On 14 June 2022, Cuypers signed a four-year contract with Gent, one of the top clubs in the Belgian Pro League. The move proved to be a major turning point in his career. In 2022, he scored 30 goals in 45 games, and in 2023, he scored 32 goals in 44 games, performances that placed him among the top ten scorers in European football for the year 2023. His consistent finishing made him one of the most sought-after forwards in the league.
Chicago Fire Era (2024–Present)
On 6 February 2024, Cuypers signed a contract with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire FC through 2026, with an option for 2027, in a club-record transfer. The deal marked his transition to North American soccer and a new chapter in his professional journey. He finished his first season at the club as the team’s top scorer, with 10 goals in 31 matches, providing a steady scoring presence in his debut MLS campaign.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cuypers’ most defining milestone came during the 2017–18 season at Ergotelis, where he set a club record with 22 goals in 28 caps, surpassing Patrick Ogunsoto’s 21-goal mark from 2006. His 30-goal and 32-goal tallies for Gent in 2022 and 2023 established him as a consistent elite-level forward in Belgium. His club-record transfer to Chicago Fire in February 2024 confirmed his standing as one of the most valuable Belgian forwards in recent years.
Hugo Cuypers Career Wins
Hugo Cuypers’ career has been defined by consistent goal-scoring rather than major trophy lifts, with his strongest honors coming during his time at Standard Liège and Olympiacos. He has reached notable personal milestones at several clubs, including club-record scoring achievements at Ergotelis and top-ten European goal-scorer status during his time at Gent.
Other Wins and Performances
Cuypers was part of the Standard Liège youth setup that helped launch his professional career and later featured for Olympiacos in Greek top-flight football. His standout individual performances at Gent in 2022 and 2023 placed him among Europe’s most productive forwards, while his debut season at Chicago Fire established him as a reliable presence in Major League Soccer.
Hugo Cuypers Family
Personal Life
Publicly available information about Hugo Cuypers’ family life is limited. He is known to be Belgian by nationality and was born and raised in Liège. Details about his parents, spouse, and children have not been publicly confirmed in reliable sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Hugo Cuypers’ second year with Chicago Fire FC in Major League Soccer, following a debut campaign in which he finished as the club’s top scorer with 10 goals in 31 matches. Signed through 2026 with an option for 2027, the Belgian forward is expected to play a central role in the team’s attacking plans as they aim to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
Cuypers will look to build on his strong finishing pedigree from his time at Gent, where he scored 30 goals in 2022 and 32 goals in 2023, numbers that marked him as one of Europe’s most reliable forwards. His ability to operate as a central striker and his experience in top-flight football in Belgium, Greece, and France give Chicago Fire a proven goal-scorer to lead the line.
Heading into the new season, Cuypers’ familiarity with the MLS environment after a full campaign in 2024 should help him adapt more quickly to the league’s unique demands. The Chicago Fire will rely on his consistency in front of goal to push for a stronger playoff push in 2025.
