Robert Lewandowski, Poland's all-time leading scorer, has completed a high-profile transfer to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, signing a two-year contract. The 37-year-old striker's move to the United States comes after his four-year tenure with La Liga giants Barcelona concluded at the end of the recent season, where his contract expired.
Lewandowski's decision to join Chicago Fire was made despite reported interest from European club AC Milan and several teams within the Saudi Pro League. His arrival in MLS is expected to position him among the league's top earners, reflecting his status as one of global football's most prolific forwards. The transfer is also seen as a significant boost for the city of Chicago, which is home to one of the largest Polish communities outside of Poland, potentially increasing local engagement and support for the club.
Chicago Fire, who secured their first play-off appearance last season and currently sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference, will welcome their new star following the World Cup break. Their next fixture is scheduled for Friday, 17 July, against Vancouver. Gregg Berhalter, Chicago Fire's director of football and head coach, expressed his enthusiasm for the signing, stating, "His arrival reinforces our ambition to compete for trophies and raises the standards for the club to heights worthy of this city. We cannot wait to get to work with him and have Chicago see first-hand why he is among the most revered sporting icons in the world."
Lewandowski's illustrious career includes 12 seasons in Germany's Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, where he amassed 10 league titles and notably led Bayern to the 2020 Champions League triumph. He was a strong contender for the 2020 Ballon d'Or, an award ultimately not presented due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and finished second in the 2021 voting. He also secured the Best Fifa Men's Player Award in both 2020 and 2021.
During his time at Barcelona, which began in 2022, Lewandowski played a pivotal role in securing three La Liga titles and the 2025 Copa del Rey, scoring an impressive 120 goals in 193 appearances. However, the past year saw him contend with a series of injuries, limiting him to only 17 league starts last season. In the wake of his departure, Barcelona have already moved to bolster their squad, acquiring Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon in a deal reportedly exceeding 80 million euros (£69.3m) and are also linked with a permanent move for Marcus Rashford, who spent the last season on loan from Manchester United. Reports on Monday, 12 July 2026, also suggest Barcelona's interest in England striker Harry Kane, who is in the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich.