Official: Schwarz and NY Red Bulls pick up Choupo

After five months of free-agency, Bundesliga veteran Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has at long last found a new club. 

Former FC Schalke 04 and FC Bayern München striker Choupo-Moting is off join former FSV Mainz 05 and Hertha BSC trainer Sandro Schwarz in America’s MLS. The Hamburg-native will serve under the German head-coach at the New York Red Bulls, who recently lost the MLS Cup Final to Moting’s former Bundesliga colleague Marco Reus’ LA Galaxy. 

Choupo’s Bundesliga resumé remains quite the impressive CV. The 35-year-old scored a total of 64 goals in 292 appearances top flight appearances for Bayern and Schalke. Choupo’s late-career renaissance with the German record champions surprised many.

Originally considered nothing more than an emergency back-up for Robert Lewandowski, Choupo stepped into the breach after Lewandowski departed ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, scoring a total 17 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for the record champs.

Harry Kane’s arrival at the FCB last season obviously rendered him expendable and his expiring contract was not renewed. The German-Cameroonian’s new deal in the Big Apple runs for two seasons with an option for a third. 

“Maxim is a strong striker who will bring a lot of experience and leadership qualities to our club,” Schwarz noted in a club statement, “He will be a great addition to our squad.”