Fire upgrade Philip Zinckernagel to Designated Player status
The Chicago Fire made Philip Zinckernagel a Designated Player on Wednesday and signed the All-Star winger to a new contract through the 2027-28 MLS season. The deal was announced on the final day of MLS’s summer transfer window. Zinckernagel, who came to Chicago from Belgian power Club Brugge before the start of the 2025 season, has seven goals and seven assists in 26 matches across all…
The Chicago Fire elevated designee Philip Zinckernagel to Designated Player status on Wednesday and inked the All-Star winger to a new contract extending through the 2027-28 MLS season. The agreement was finalized on the final day of the MLS summer transfer window. Zinckernagel, who transferred to Chicago from Belgian club Club Brugge before the 2025 season, registered seven goals and seven assists in 26 appearances across all competitions in 2026.
Fire coach and director of football Gregg Berhalter commended the player, stating, "Philip has earned this recognition through his performance and the consistency he shows week after week." Zinckernagel has been an MLS All-Star for both of his tenure with the club, having become the first Fire player to score in the All-Star Game since Cuauhtemoc Blanco in 2008.
This season, the Dane achieved a milestone by recording double digits in goals and assists in a season with 15 goals and 15 assists. Off the field, Zinckernagel expressed his gratitude to the club for the opportunity to continue contributing to the team, city, and fans. Chicago currently holds the third position in the Eastern Conference with 37 points, marking the organization's best performance since 2017.
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