Georgios Koutsias moves to FC Lugano on loan
Georgios Koutsias has officially left the Chicago Fire for a loan at sister club FC Lugano, the team confirmed this morning. The move opens a roster spot, a U-22 Initiative slot, and an international slot on the Fire's roster.
With the move being a one-year loan rather than a permanent transfer, the Fire do not have to use their one-time annual contract buyout and maintain that flexibility for other players this offseason. Koutsias joins Lugano despite interest from other European clubs; those offers already received from overseas are part of what enabled the Fire to avoid the use of a buyout in making this move possible. The Fire also maintain the ability to recall Koutsias at any time during 2025 should they wish to do so.
Koutsias joined the Fire at the start of the 2023 season for a fee of roughly around $2.5 million and made 57 MLS appearances across two seasons. However, despite plentiful minutes, he struggled to find the back of the net consistently and scored just twice in MLS in 2024.
A move to Lugano has been on the cards for some time, and as far back as the summer, it had been discussed internally as a possible solution to aid Koutsias' development. Even with the new director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter coming in since then, the move will go ahead as a loan, and the 20-year-old will have a big opportunity to shine with valuable minutes in the Swiss Super League.
The Bianconeri now benefit from gaining a talented young forward with significant top-flight experience in a top 10 league and someone who immediately makes the team better. Kacper Przybyłko has been the team's go-to man up front in recent weeks and has scored three times this year; however, Koutsias will likely dethrone him as the starting #9, much as he did when they were both with the Fire in 2023.
Though it would be difficult to call Koutsias a definitive flop in Chicago, it is fair to say he has not matched the production expected from a U-22 Initiative forward in MLS. Outside of an impressive run in late summer – in which the ex-PAOK striker scored five times in six games for club and country – Koutsias had a goal-barren 2024.
Nonetheless, as Koutsias will be staying under the umbrella of Joe Mansueto's club ownership, and bringing him back to Chicago in 2026 is a possibility should he improve as hoped. The Swiss league represents an opportunity for Koutsias to continue his development, and should the opportunity arise to move on to a bigger league in the future, it could provide the platform to do so. Lugano are set to advance to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Conference League, so Koutsias will have the chance to play on a bigger European stage in competitive matches.
With preseason still a month away, the Fire's striker room now consists of club-record DP signing Hugo Cuypers, Tom Barlow, and new addition David Poreba. MLS free agency opened yesterday, and the club will have ample opportunity to add a new backup forward before the season begins.
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