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Sources: Christopher Cupps signs as Chicago Fire homegrown

Alex Calabrese

08 Feb 2025 — 2 min read

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Christopher Cupps has signed a homegrown contract with the Chicago Fire first team, sources told MIR97 Media. Cupps is one of the Fire's top prospects and has been with the club since he was eight years old.

Cupps, 16, was one of the standouts of the first phase of the Fire's preseason. After a 45-minute appearance in the opening preseason game against Fortaleza, the teenager went the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. He has since left camp to join the U.S. U-17 team for World Cup Qualifying – a team he is set to captain.

Cupps is the Fire's top defensive prospect.(photo: Barbara Calabrese)

Last season, Cupps split time between the Fire U-17s and Fire II. He made 15 MLS Next Pro appearances, mostly at center back, but had some shifts filling in at fullback. The Lincoln Park native demonstrated tremendous growth over the course of the season, including with his ball-playing ability. His technical progress and physical prowess together make him one of the top American defensive prospects presently.

Cupps' signing with the Fire also overrides his commitment to play college soccer at the University of Notre Dame. He had not received a contract offer from the club prior to the start of preseason but made the most of the opportunity Head Coach Gregg Berhalter gave him by bringing him to the first phase of exhibition action in Florida.

Cupps will compete with Konincks and Oyegunle for MLS Next Pro minutes. (via Barbara Calabrese/MIR97 Media)

Cupps is the third homegrown player that the Fire have signed this offseason, following Dylan Borso and Robert Turdean. Borso, 18, was signed straight out of Wake Forest following an impressive freshman season, while Turdean, 15, is a key player for the Fire U-17s. Those two had been expected to be the only full homegrown signings for 2025, but Cupps' impressive preseason performances seemingly forced the club's hand.

While Cupps has indeed signed a first team contract, he will still play most to all of his competitive minutes this season for the second team, rotating with other center back options Diego Konincks and Olu Oyegunle. Other first team center back options now include Jack Elliott, Carlos Terán, Sam Rogers, Mauricio Pineda, and Omar González.

https://meninred97.com/cupps-nagle-called-up-for-u-17-world-cup-qualifiers/

https://meninred97.com/sources-robert-turdean-signs-chicago-fire-homegrown-deal/

https://meninred97.com/who-will-be-the-chicago-fires-next-homegrown/

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