CHICAGO (Sept. 2, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed winger Philip Zinckernagel to a new contract as a Designated Player. Zinckernagel is under contract with the Club through the 2027-28 season.
“Philip has earned this recognition through his performance and the consistency he displays week after week," said Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. "He's been one of the league's most productive attacking players, and his impact on our Club has been significant. We're pleased to see him rewarded for the contributions he's made, and we look forward to seeing him continue that form."
Zinckernagel, 31, joined the Fire at the beginning of 2025 from Club Brugge in Belgium. The Danish winger quickly established himself as a stalwart, playing in 32 regular season matches (31 starts) and becoming the first player in Chicago Fire history to register a double-double to end the year with 15 goals and 15 assists.
“I’m incredibly grateful to this Club for the opportunity to continue demonstrating my commitment to the team, the city and the fans,” said Zinckernagel. “Hopefully my play on the field reflects my desire to win championships and achieve great things with the Fire.”
His strong form carried over into 2026, with Zinckernagel starting all 20 MLS regular season matches he has played for Chicago. Across all competitions, he has appeared in 26 matches for the Men in Red this year, recording seven goals and seven assists. A consistent contributor, Zinckernagel ranks second on the team with 1,598 minutes played, trailing only goalkeeper Chris Brady (1,890).
Zinckernagel's record-setting 2025 season also featured goal contributions in 10 consecutive matches, tying the MLS record set by Josef Martínez. He was selected to the 2025 MLS All-Star roster by head coach Nico Estévez, becoming the Club's first All-Star selection since forward Kei Kamara earned a Commissioner's Pick in 2023. Zinckernagel later assisted Brian White's goal in the 80th minute of the MLS All-Star Game.
In 2026, Zinckernagel earned MLS All-Star honors for the second consecutive season and became the first Fire player to score in an MLS All-Star Game since Cuauhtémoc Blanco found the net in 2008. Overall, Zinckernagel has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday 11 times, including six selections to the Starting XI.
Prior to joining the Fire, Zinckernagel had amassed more than 400 appearances in his career, tallying 83 goals and 80 assists across various leagues and competitions in Europe. During his time with Club Brugge, he made 44 appearances across all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign, recording seven goals and nine assists to help the team win the Belgian Championship and advance to the semifinals of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Zinckernagel began his professional career in 2013 when he joined HB Köge in Denmark. Over the course of his 13-year career, Zinckernagel has played in the USA, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, England and Greece.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC signed winger Philip Zinckernagel to a new contract as a Designated Player.
Name: Philip Zinckernagel (pronounced: zink-er-NOG-l)
Position: Winger
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 160 lbs.
Date of Birth: Dec. 16, 1994
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Citizenship: Denmark
Last Club: Club Brugge
