Kacper Przybyłko (born 25 March 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Swiss Super League club Lugano. Born in Germany, he represented Poland at various youth international levels.

Kacper Przybyłko
Przybyłko with 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-03-25) 25 March 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Bielefeld, Germany[1]
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Lugano
Number 93
Youth career
TuS Jöllenbeck
2003–2012 Arminia Bielefeld
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Arminia Bielefeld II 13 (15)
2011–2012 Arminia Bielefeld 2 (0)
2012–2014 1. FC Köln II 39 (21)
2012–2014 1. FC Köln 23 (2)
2014Arminia Bielefeld (loan) 14 (4)
2014–2015 Greuther Fürth 32 (5)
2015–2018 1. FC Kaiserslautern 45 (9)
2018 1. FC Kaiserslautern II 3 (0)
2018–2021 Philadelphia Union 83 (35)
2019Bethlehem Steel (loan) 2 (3)
2022–2024 Chicago Fire 50 (9)
2024– Lugano 19 (5)
2024 Lugano II 1 (0)
International career
2008 Poland U15 2 (2)
2008–2009 Poland U16 4 (0)
2009–2010 Poland U17 8 (3)
2010 Poland U18 1 (0)
2011 Poland U19 3 (1)
2012 Poland U20 5 (3)
2013–2014 Poland U21 10 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024

Club career

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1. FC Köln

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On 31 January 2012, Przybyłko joined 1. FC Köln's reserve team from Arminia Bielefeld.[3]

Greuther Fürth

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After the end of his loan to Bielefeld in summer 2014, he left 1. FC Köln to join Greuther Fürth on a three-year deal until 2017.[4] He was described as tough and good on the ball.[4]

1. FC Kaiserslautern

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Przybyłko joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern in July 2015 and scored two goals in his debut for the club. In summer 2018 he was released by the club.[5]

In August 2018, he trialled with 1. FC Magdeburg of the 2. Bundesliga.[5]

Philadelphia Union

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Przybyłko playing for Philadelphia Union in 2019

On 16 September 2018, Przybyłko signed with Philadelphia Union competing in Major League Soccer for the remainder of the 2018 season with an option for 2019.[6] Despite not making an appearance for the Union in 2018, his option was picked up ahead of the 2019 season.[7] After a brief loan to Bethlehem Steel to recover from a foot injury, Przybyłko made his debut for the Union as a substitute against the Montreal Impact. A week later, he scored his first goal for the Union as an equalizer against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[8] Przybyłko continued to become a scoring threat over the season, leading the Union's scoring with 15 goals before suffering an injury and keeping him out for the post-season.[9]

2019 season: Loan to Bethlehem Steel

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Prior to the start of the 2019 season, Przybyłko was loaned to the Union's affiliate, Bethlehem Steel FC, who compete in the USL Championship.[10] Przybyłko started in the opening match away against Birmingham Legion FC and scored the first goal of Steel FC's season.[11]

Chicago Fire

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On 22 January 2022, Przybyłko was traded to Chicago Fire in exchange for $1,150,000 of General Allocation Money.[12]

Lugano

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After spending three and a half years in the United States, Przybyłko returned to Europe in February 2024. On 16 February, he joined Swiss club Lugano on a deal until the end of June 2025.[2] On 30 March, he made his league debut coming on as a substitute against Stade Lausanne Ouchy and scored the final goal of the game in a 1–3 away win.[13]

International career

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Przybyłko played for the Poland national U21 team.[14]

Personal life

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Born in Bielefeld, Kacper Przybyłko comes from a sporting family of Polish origin.[1] His twin brother, Jakub, is also a footballer who joined Greuther Fürth in 2014, and later played for the second team in fourth-tier Regionalliga Bayern. His older brother Mateusz Przybylko is a high jumper representing Germany in international competitions.[15]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 15 December 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arminia Bielefeld 2011–12 3. Liga 2 0 0 0 2 0
1. FC Köln II 2011–12 Regionalliga West 17 10 0 0 17 10
2012–13 Regionalliga West 20 11 0 0 20 11
2013–14 Regionalliga West 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 39 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 21
1. FC Köln 2012–13 2. Bundesliga 15 1 2 0 0 0 17 1
2013–14 2. Bundesliga 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
Total 23 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 25 2
Arminia Bielefeld 2013–14 2. Bundesliga 14 4 0 0 2[b] 1 16 5
Greuther Fürth 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 32 5 1 0 0 0 33 5
1. FC Kaiserslautern 2015–16 2. Bundesliga 30 7 2 0 0 0 32 7
2016–17 2. Bundesliga 14 2 0 0 0 0 14 2
2017–18 2. Bundesliga 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 45 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 47 9
Philadelphia Union 2019 Major League Soccer 26 15 0 0 0 0 26 15
2020 Major League Soccer 23 8 4[c][d] 0 27 8
2021 Major League Soccer 34 12 0 0 6[e] 5 3[d] 0 43 17
Total 83 35 0 0 6 5 7 0 96 40
Bethlehem Steel FC (loan) 2019 USL Championship 2 3 0 0 2 3
Chicago Fire 2022 Major League Soccer 25 5 1 0 0 0 26 5
2023 Major League Soccer 25 4 3 2 3[f] 0 31 6
Total 50 9 4 2 3 0 57 11
Lugano 2023–24 Swiss Super League 3 1 1 0 4 1
2024–25 Swiss Super League 16 4 3 3 9[g] 0 28 7
Total 19 5 4 3 9 0 32 8
Lugano II 2023–24 Swiss Promotion League 1 0 1 0
Career total 310 93 13 5 15 5 12 1 350 104
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, U.S. Open Cup, Swiss Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in the 2. Bundesliga promotion-relegation play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in the MLS is Back Tournament
  4. ^ a b Appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs
  5. ^ Appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League
  6. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
  7. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, five appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

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Philadelphia Union

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Burger, Markus (2 March 2012). "Ein Torjäger, der an Autos schraubt" [A striker who loves cars]. Kölner Stadt Anzeiger (in German). Archived from the original on 11 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Kacper Przybylko, un rinforzo per l'attacco" (in Italian). Lugano. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Köln verpflichtet Bielefelds Przybylko" [Koln acquires Bielefeld's Przybylko]. Sport-Informations-Dienst (in German). focus.de. 31 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Greuther Fürth nimmt Polen Przybylko unter Vertrag" [Greuther Fürth signs Pole Przybylko]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 27 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Magdeburg testet Przybylko". kicker Online (in German). 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Union Sign Forward Kacper Przybylko". philadelphiaunion.com. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. ^ Jonathan Tannenwald (17 December 2018). "Union re-sign Warren Creavalle, Fabinho, and Kacper Przybylko". philly.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  8. ^ Matthew Ralph (16 May 2019). "How Kacper Przybylko emerged to lead the Philadelphia Union's front line". MLSssoccer.com. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  9. ^ Tom Bogert (16 October 2019). "Meet Kacper Przybylko, Philadelphia's breakout star who almost called it quits". MLSssoccer.com. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  10. ^ Matthew Ralph (2 March 2019). "Elliott gets a raise, Przybylko "on loan" and other observations from the Union roster". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  11. ^ Matthew Ralph (11 March 2019). "Bethlehem Steel FC spoil Birmingham Legion's first game with 2-0 win". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquire Polish Striker Kacper Przybyłko from the Philadelphia Union in Exchange for General Allocation Money | Chicago Fire FC".
  13. ^ "Gol Kacpra Przybyłki". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. ^ "eME U-19: Polska 1-3 Gruzja". 90minut.pl. 6 November 2011.
  15. ^ "Fürth II holt Przybylko aus Köln" [Fürth II signs Przybylko from Cologne]. Bavarian Football Association (in German). 15 June 2014.
  16. ^ Kacper Przybyłko at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. ^ "2021 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot". CONCACAF Champions League. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Funes Mori, Ochoa highlight 2021 SCCL Team Of The Tournament". CONCACAF Champions League. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
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