Staffordshire to Stateside. Europe to East Coast. Bundesliga to Big Apple. The former Stoke City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich forward Eric Choupo-Moting is now a New York Red Bulls player. The Sports Illustrated Stadium and Major League Soccer are only better places for it.
The firepower that the Red Bulls need
Sandro Schwarz’s New York Red Bulls had an overachieving 2024. The team hadn’t made many signings from the prior season but still finished in the playoffs, albeit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. As New Yorkers say, what happened next wasn’t regular coffee.
The team kept punching above its weight. It was launching offensive soccer moves, budging deadass franchises out of the postseason, just like the stereotypical NYC citizen shouting, “HEY, I’M WALKING HERE!” Of course, it all ended up with tears on the west side of the Lincoln Tunnel as they lost the MLS Cup final to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Now, if you’re confused about why a team called New York plays in New Jersey, you’re not alone. Every time the Red Bulls lose a big game, some NYCFC fan tweets, “That’s what happens when you’re playing in Harrison, not Harlem.” But this is MLS, where a Statue of Liberty backdrop counts as a home field advantage, and a win against NYCFC feels like flipping off everyone who ever called Jersey “the armpit of America.”
Despite making it to the endgame and the fanfare of the trophy match, the Red Bulls were never outstanding goal scorers. Lewis Morgan was the top scorer with nine in the regular season. While he can play up top, he’s much more natural as a winger. The most recognisable striker was Elias Manoel. Yet come the new year, he’s joined Real Salt Lake.
Stepping in to fill the void is Eric Choupo-Moting. The 35-year-old will bring playoffs experience, strong ball control, and acute final-ball awareness—whether it’s finishing a play or assisting the winning pass.
Big games need big players
New York’s a city of big stages, and Choupo-Moting’s played on all of them. With 292 Bundesliga appearances, three Bundesliga titles, two Ligue 1 trophies, and a FIFA Club World Cup win, he’s been there, done that, and probably posed for pictures with the silverware.
It’s not just the trophies, though—it’s how he plays. Strong on the ball, slick with lay-offs, and deadly in front of goal, Choupo-Moting is tailor-made for the Red Bulls’ biggest nights. Imagine him in a Hudson River Derby, backing into NYCFC defenders like he’s boxing out space on a crowded C train during rush hour. Every goal feels like a “move it, pal!” to the blue half of the city.
Hustle hard, Red Bulls style
Choupo-Moting’s game isn’t just about flair—it’s about grind. When Bayern were at their best, he told DAZN, “I try to step on the gas every day in training. I know that I can help the team.” That’s exactly the kind of mentality the Red Bulls need in the playoffs, where every match is a street fight for glory.
This isn’t Europe, where a mistake costs you three points; this is MLS, where one wrong move could cost you your season. Choupo-Moting’s calm under pressure, willingness to hustle, and ability to deliver in big moments make him the perfect antidote to the Red Bulls’ offensive woes.
Can Choupo-Moting play himself back into the Cameroon team?
Choupo-Moting might have been born in Hamburg, Germany—but his heart’s with Cameroon. With 20 goals in 73 caps, he’s a cult hero for the Indomitable Lions, the guy who always shows up when it counts. And while his international days seemed numbered, a stellar MLS season could get head coach Marc Brys thinking.
Picture this: Choupo-Moting lighting up MLS in the shadow of Lady Liberty, pulling off nutmegs and 90th-minute winners. If he can shine here, where every game feels like Broadway with studs, there’s no reason he can’t get another World Cup call-up. After all, the Indomitable Lions don’t need a young pup—they need a savvy old lion who knows how to roar when it matters most.
“Header Photo” by Franco237 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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