Chicago Fire Roster Preview 2025: Forwards
The fourth and final component of the Chicago Fire’s 2025 MLS Season roster for MIR97 Media are the forwards. Despite a lack of consistency in recent years, the new additions to this area of the field might be the most exciting ones yet.
From quality players from Europe to even more academy talent, there won’t be a shortage of energy and creativity this year in front of the net.
9. Hugo Cuypers
Height: 6’1 (185 cm) | DOB: February 7, 1997 (28)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 31 | Games started: 31 | Minutes: 2630
The main man up top, the undisputed number 9, and the first player since 2020 to reach double-digit goals in MLS for the Fire, Cuypers remains the threat he was when he came from Europe last season. Having barely missed any games and starting all of the ones he did play, he recorded the second most minutes for the team in MLS, only behind Chris Brady.
Similarly to last year, Cuypers has the potential to be one of the best strikers in MLS. The big struggle last season was deliveries and chemistry with wingers, especially due to the amount of rotation. With more fixed players like Jonathan Bamba and Phillip Zinckernagel this season, there should be an increase of crosses into the box, something that will benefit Cuypers directly.
Cuypers missed the bulk of preseason action, giving the impression that he will most likely be unavailable for opening day at Columbus.
7. Maren Haile-Selassie
Height: 5’10 (177 cm) | DOB: March 13, 1999 (25)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 27 | Games started: 23 | Minutes: 2040
It is easy to forget who the player with the most goal contributions was last year, who also happened to be the team’s top goalscorer in 2023, but it is indeed Haile-Selassie. Being the star winger for the last several seasons, Maren has gotten into a smooth rhythm of productivity while playing on both flanks that has allowed him to surpass double-digit contributions for every season since he arrived.
While he will have Phillip Zinckernagel and possibly even Omari Glasgow competing for his position, he should be preferred. It is important to note that he is currently out of service, as he missed the preseason friendlies with injury.
11. Philip Zinckernagel
Height: 5’9 (175 cm) | DOB: December 16, 1994 (30)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
The first of the two star signings up top, Zinckernagel joins the list of players coming directly from Europe in the prime of their careers. Having scored goals in the Europa League against Manchester United and Beşiktaş just over two months ago, he has been crucial to FK Bodø/Glimt’s success this past season.
Although some might have the impression that he is a left winger, throughout his career, he has played just as many, if not more, matches on the right. This means that it is expected for him to alternate with Haile-Selassie on the right wing.
Zinckernagel is also the only player to ever play for the Fire who has goal contributions in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.
19. Jonathan Bamba
Height: 5’9 (175 cm) | DOB: Mar 26, 1996 (28)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
Bamba joined the Fire just last month following incredible individual performances against teams like Real Madrid. He comes from Celta de Vigo who, despite sitting in 14th place, are a historic team in the Spanish first division.
Playing primarily as a left winger, at the age of 28, he has already scored 40+ goals and assisted over 50 throughout his career. Despite having been a little inconsistent since signing for Celta, MLS should be a breath of fresh air, and he could easily finish this season with double-digit goal contributions.
8. Chris Mueller
Height: 5’9 (175 cm) | DOB: August 29, 1996 (28)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 27 | Games started: 15 | Minutes: 1358
On his way back from a season riddled with injuries, there weren’t very high expectations for him this past season. That being said, Mueller did end up playing a decent number of minutes. He has not sustained any serious injuries since May of 2023, which is progress.
With the arrival of Bamba and Zinckernagel, it is unlikely that he will start most games but he should still be favored over the players coming up from the second team. Mueller ended last season with three assists and no goals, a number he will be looking to significantly improve on.
12. Tom Barlow
Height: 6’2 (188 cm) | DOB: July 8, 1995 (29)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 28 | Games started: 5 | Minutes: 731
Despite playing in almost 30 games and being injury-free all season, 2024 was not the best year for Barlow, as he was the backup for Hugo Cuypers. He started only the matches where the preferred striker was unavailable and found it difficult to adapt because of this.
Barlow ended the season with two goals, a number that isn’t all that bad, given he started only 5 games. While there is chance that he will have a bigger role this season in the departure of Georgios Koutsias, so long as Cuypers is healthy, it will be complicated for him to get minutes.
At the moment, with the players that are out, it is possible to see him start or at least get minutes in the opening match against the Columbus Crew.
26. Omari Glasgow
Height: 5’9 (175 cm) | DOB: November 22, 2003 (21)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 2 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 34
Debuting in Major League Soccer last year, Omari played the bulk of his minutes for Fire II.
The Guyanese record scorer appeared in 28 matches across four competitions (MLS, Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and MLS Next Pro) for a total of 2453 minutes; he had a productive season.
Primarily playing on the right wing, it is expected that he will be the third choice after Haile-Selassie and Zinckernagel.
28. Dean Boltz
Height: 6’2 (188 cm) | DOB: June 7, 2006 (18)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
This season will be Boltz’s first in MLS, having just been drafted out of Wisconsin this past December. He was drafted number 3rd overall in the 2025 SuperDraft. He was the first player to score 10 goals in a season for Wisconsin since his current teammate Tom Barlow did back in 2017.
With Koutsias on loan at FC Lugano, Boltz will be the third-choice striker this season behind Cuypers and Barlow.
37. Robert Turdean
Height: 5’7 (170 cm) | DOB: January 14, 2010 (15)
MLS Stats (2024):
Games played: 0 | Games started: 0 | Minutes: 0
Turdean was signed last month to a club-record contract as a homegrown player, the second largest in MLS history only behind Cavan Sullivan. This also makes him the 7th active player on a homegrown contract with the club, the most at once in history.
Regardless, he remains an off-roster player so he won’t be able to feature in more than six games this season with the first team. He will be more likely to feature with the second team.
The Verdict
The attack ranks a close second behind the defense in terms of off-season strengthening with singings like Jonathan Bamba, Philip Zinckernagel, and Dean Boltz. Once again, developmental reinforcements like Omari Glasgow are also helpful in improving this attack.
One of the most important factors this season will be delivery into the box for Hugo Cuypers by part of the wingers and fullbacks. Although wingers have been known to get a lot of goals in the squad over previous years, the current favorites to play in these positions rack up more assists than goals. This, added to the speed, agility, and ability of these players, should make the team more productive on offense.
Read More:
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-roster-preview-2025-midfielders/
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-roster-preview-2025-defenders/
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-roster-preview-2025-goalkeepers/
