Vitaliy is a top young prospect from MLS Next with Chicago Fire Academy. He signed to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through 2026, with Club options for 2027 and 2028. Hlyut became the first Chicago Fire Academy player to sign directly with Chicago Fire II, highlighting the player development pathway from the Academy to the professional ranks. His commitment and drive to improve and succeed have helped him to grow very quickly as a player. He made his professional debut on March 17, coming in as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati 2. Three days later, Hlyut scored in the opening round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Chicago City SC. With his goal, Hlyut is believed to be the second-youngest player to ever score in the prestigious competition. He recently, signed a short term contract with the First team as he got called for an MLS league game.
In addition to his appearances in MLS NEXT Pro and U.S. Open Cup, the Chicago native also earned a spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate. He was only the second Academy player to feature in the showcase, following forward Michael Nesci’s appearance in 2023.
On the international level, Hlyut has earned call-ups to multiple U.S. Men’s Youth National Team training camps. He last appeared for the U.S. U-17 Men’s Youth National Team in the Ježek Cup, held in Hustopeče, Czech Republic from Aug. 30-Sept. 9. The winger appeared in all three tournament matches against Germany, Czech Republic and Slovenia, starting two of them. He holds both American and Ukrainian citizenship.