Robert Lewandowski signs with MLS side Chicago Fire

Robert Lewandowski, the former Barcelona striker and Poland’s all-time top scorer, is heading to Major League Soccer to play for the Chicago Fire.

The Fire announced a two-year contract with Lewandowski on Monday, pending the completion of his visa and international transfer certificate.

Lewandowski joins a Chicago team that sits third in the Eastern Conference with 26 points from 14 games during the league’s break for the World Cup. The franchise also opened a new training center last year and is continuing construction of McDonald’s Park, a soccer-specific stadium set to open in 2028.

Lewandowski, who turns 38 on August 21, could play his first game with his new team against Vancouver on July 16. He helped Barcelona win three La Liga championships in four seasons, including this year, and one title in the Copa del Rey, Spain’s national tournament. He scored 119 goals in 192 appearances for the club.

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Lewandowski said an emotional farewell at the Camp Nou stadium on May 17 when he was thrown into the air by his teammates after a 3-1 win over Real Betis. They also lined up and applauded Lewandowski as he walked to the dressing room.

Lewandowski left Bayern Munich for Barcelona in a $52 million transfer in 2022. He scored 312 goals in 384 Bundesliga games for Bayern and previous club Borussia Dortmund, winning 10 championships in Germany’s top flight.

Lewandowski also made a record 167 appearances for Poland, starting with a goal on his debut against San Marino in 2008, when he was 20. His 89 goals are almost twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has only qualified for the World Cup twice, with his best result being reaching the round of 16 in 2022.

He hinted at an international retirement after Poland failed to reach the World Cup this year. Poland’s next scheduled matches are in the Nations League in September.

Lewandowski will be a designated player, one of three roster spots that MLS teams can use to exceed the salary cap. His contract runs through the 2027-28 season, including the remainder of 2026 and the 2027 mini-season next spring, before the league shifts to a summer-to-spring schedule that aligns with the European system.

«We wanted to build a world-class club that inspires greatness, unites Chicago and wins championships. Robert embodies those values ​​and represents the standards this city deserves: a champion and a competitor,» Fire coach Gregg Berhalter said. “His arrival reinforces our ambition to challenge for trophies and raises the standards for the club to heights worthy of this city. We can’t wait to get started with him and show Chicago first-hand why he is one of the most respected sporting icons in the world.”

Published on June 30, 2026