CHICAGO (March 22, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC today announced that the Club has signed Chicago Fire FC II defender Diego Konincks (pronounced: CONE-inks) to a short-term agreement. Konincks will be available for today’s MLS regular season road match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.
Konincks, 24, took part in the Chicago Fire’s second leg of preseason camp, playing against LAFC, Portland Timbers, and San Jose Earthquakes at the Coachella Valley Invitational. He also played in a closed-door scrimmage against Las Vegas Lights FC to close out preseason. The versatile Dutch player was named Chicago Fire II captain for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro regular season and has gone 90 minutes in both of the team’s matches so far this year.
In 2024, the defensive stalwart started all 24 matches in which he played in MLS NEXT Pro, scoring twice as a centerback. Konincks also started and played the full 90 minutes in the team’s three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches and was called to four Short-Term Agreements with the Chicago Fire in 2024. This is Konincks’ first short-term agreement of the 2025 regular season.
Per MLS rules, a Club may sign a player from its affiliate (MLS NEXT Pro or USL) to a maximum of four Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) each season (maximum of 16 days). An individual player may be included in up to four MLS regular season match rosters each season, but may appear in no more than two MLS regular season matches. An individual player may appear in any number of non-league games during the terms of his four Short-Term Agreements.
Transaction: Chicago Fire FC (MLS) signs defender Diego Konincks to Short-Term Agreement from Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro).
Name: Diego Konincks (pronounced: CONE-inks)
Position: Defender
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Date of Birth: November 30, 2000
Hometown: Montfoort, Netherlands
Birthplace: Montfoort, Netherlands
Citizenship: Netherlands
Last Club: Saint Louis University (NCAA)
The Vancouver Whitecaps are off to a dream start in the 2024 MLS season, and head coach Jesper Sorensen is making sure the squad stays grounded ahead of Saturday night’s home matchup against the Chicago Fire.
With a 4-0-0 record, Vancouver is just the seventh team in MLS history to begin a season with four straight wins. The streak matches the longest winning run in the club’s 15-season MLS tenure. The hot start comes despite notable setbacks, with Ryan Gauld (knee) and Sam Adekugbe (quad) sidelined with long-term injuries. Emmanuel Sabbi, dealing with an ankle issue, could return for the match.
“If we have gained some confidence because of a good start, it’s a positive thing. … I would not warn the guys about getting too excited. I’m happy if they’re excited, but I will be realistic,” said Sorensen.
Vancouver leads the league with 12 points and has advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, all while maintaining a balanced, high-energy approach.
The Chicago Fire (2-1-1, 7 points) come into Saturday’s match on a three-game unbeaten run. Impressively, they’ve trailed in all four of their matches this season but responded with a 2-0-1 record over their last three. Coach Gregg Berhalter is embracing the “next man up” mentality as Chicago prepares for the formidable task of facing the only perfect team in MLS.
“It’s really a ‘next man up’ mentality, and that’s what the team has been living by this season. … I think it shows the mindset of this group, not to get rattled,” said Berhalter.
Striker Hugo Cuypers has been a standout for Chicago, currently ranking second in MLS with four goals. He will face a formidable Whitecaps defense that has not conceded a goal in the past 231 minutes.
The Fire’s resilience and Cuypers’ goal-scoring form will be tested against a Vancouver side thriving through adversity. With multiple key players missing for both teams, depth and tactical discipline will be critical in determining the outcome.
The two teams have met on 14 previous occasions leading into this weekend's clash. Vancouver has won eight of those meetings, with six ending in draws and Chicago winning the remaining six. Vancouver has lost just one of the last five competitive meetings between the sides, scoring eight goals across those games.
Looking ahead, the visitors will need to shore up their defense, having conceded eight goals already in four games. Vancouver maintains the joint-second best offensive and defensive records in the league, with nine goals scored and only two conceded across four games. The visitors have scored as many goals in the league as the Caps but have struggled defensively.
Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps are favorites going into the weekend's clash thanks to their recent form. The Fire have what it takes to pick up at least a point but will need to be much more solid defensively than they have been in recent weeks to achieve that.
Overall, the matchup promises to be an electrifying contest as both teams aim to continue their respective trajectories.
