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.
 Przybyłko with 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 March 1993 | ||
| 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) |
| 2014 | → Arminia 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) |
| 2019 | → Bethlehem Steel (loan) | 2 | (3) |
| 2022–2024 | Chicago Fire | 50 | (9) |
| 2024– | Lugano | 3 | (1) |
| 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 2 June 2024 | |||
Club career
1. FC Köln
On 31 January 2012, Przybyłko joined 1. FC Köln's reserve team from Arminia Bielefeld.[3]
Greuther Fürth
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
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
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
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
On 22 January 2022, Przybyłko was traded to Chicago Fire in exchange for $1,150,000 of General Allocation Money.[12]
Lugano
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
Przybyłko played for the Poland national U21 team.[14]
Personal life
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
Club
- As of match played 25 May 2024[16]
| 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 | ||
| Lugano II | 2023–24 | Swiss Promotion League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 294 | 89 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 322 | 96 | ||
Honours
Philadelphia Union
Individual
- CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot: 2021[18]
- CONCACAF Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2021[19]
References
External links
- Kacper Przybyłko at kicker (in German)
- Kacper Przybyłko at Major League Soccer