Union’s trade of leading scorer Kacper Przybylko to Chicago lands them $1.15 million in allocation money

Kacper Przybylko’s transfer from the Union to the Chicago Fire became official on Saturday morning, as did the terms of the deal.

The Union will receive $1.15 million in allocation money, effectively cash that becomes bonus cap space, split evenly over this year and next year ($575,000 in each season),

Przybylko leaves having tallied 40 goals and 14 assists for the Union in 96 games over three seasons. Originally signed in September 2018 for free by sporting director Ernst Tanner, Przybylko arrived in Philadelphia while rehabbing a long-term foot injury that had kept him off the field for over a year.

The 28-year-old Germany native of Polish citizenship didn’t end up making his Union debut until early in the 2019 season. He quickly took off, scoring 15 goals in 26 games— the second-highest single-season goal total in team history.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he scored seven goals in 20 games; and in 2021, he had 17 in 40 across the regular season and Concacaf Champions League. Five of those goals came in the Union’s six-game run to the semifinals in their debut in the continental tournament.

» READ MORE: Union hire Ryan Richter as assistant coach, promoting a Philly-area native from their academy

Przybylko wrote a farewell message on Instagram in which he thanked the team’s coaches, staff, and “all the fans that had my back throughout these years, that stood by my side regardless of the outcome of the games.”

“Philly you have been amazing and you will always have my heart,” he said. “I was lucky to have great teammates and make friendships for life. ... 3 years I have dedicated to this team. 3 seasons of writing history and remaining on the top of our league.”

Przybylko admitted that “it saddens me that my time here has ended so abruptly.” But he tried his best to look on the bright side, as he did throughout his time here.

“I am so proud of everything the team and myself have accomplished in these 3 seasons!” he wrote. “I know they will continue to do amazing. ... With all good things, there is always an end… Once again thank you ALL for everything you have done for me.”

If you’re a casual observer wondering why a Philadelphia sports team would trade its top scorer, the comparison here is the Eagles moving on from Brian Dawkins and other important players before their peaks, instead of after them, under Andy Reid and Joe Banner.

The Union believe they have gotten all they can out of Przybylko, who turns 29 in March, especially since he was a free acquisition. The team is as aware as its fan base that while Przybylko scored a lot of goals here, he did so in streaks.

He scored just once in the Union’s last 12 games of 2020, as the team fought its way to the Supporters’ Shield, and that drought included the shutout loss to New England in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, he went scoreless in a nine-game stretch through August and early September, and the Union won just two of those contests.

Przybylko also did not score in last year’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference final, though he did force the own goal that gave the Union a brief lead in that game.

“We want to thank Kacper for his efforts on and off the field with the Philadelphia Union,” Tanner said in a statement. “He has played a major role in some of the Union’s most memorable moments over the last few years and we wish him all the best as we continue to look to strengthen and add depth to our roster in the coming weeks.”

It could be sooner than “the coming weeks.” Tanner has already found Przybylko’s replacement in Danish striker Mikael Uhre, and is putting the finishing touches on the Union’s biggest-ever signing at the position.

» READ MORE: Union close to signing Mikael Uhre, a Danish striker who would be the big-time forward that’s long been craved

Chicago, meanwhile, is thrilled to get a player with a track record of scoring in MLS. The team is expected to give Przybylko a new long-term contract that the Union didn’t want to offer.

“Going into the offseason, we wanted to sign a top attacking player with MLS experience and Kacper has been one of the most effective goal scorers in this league over the last three seasons,” Fire sporting director Georg Heitz said in a statement. “With his physical attributes and knack for scoring goals, we believe that he will be a great addition as we continue to build a talented roster for 2022 and beyond.”

As an added bonus, the Fire can market Przybylko to Chicago’s sizable Polish population, which has come to Soldier Field often to watch players from their home country. Przybylko will be the seventh Polish player in a Fire lineage that started when the team launched in 1998. Peter Nowak, Roman Kosecki, and Jerzy Podbrozny won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup that year, and Nowak won another Open Cup in 2000.

But Chicago hasn’t won anything since 2006, an awful drought for a big-city team. It will be up to Przybylko to help do something about that, as he did for Philadelphia.

“Surprise Chicago, another Polish addition haha!” he wrote. “I’m happy and excited to start this new journey with a club that fought for me and believes in me. Can’t wait to get on the pitch and do my best for this team and the club throughout the upcoming seasons.”