Robert Lewandowski arrives in Chicago to begin four-year Fire contract worth nearly $20m a year

Arrival in the Windy City

Robert Lewandowski has arrived in Chicago to begin his career with Chicago Fire, with the club posting images of the Polish striker outside the Waldorf Astoria hotel where he was greeted by staff and supporters. "Welcome to Chicago, Robert," the club wrote on social media. The 37-year-old's first training session with his new teammates is scheduled for 10:30 local time, with the opening 15 minutes open to media, followed by a press conference alongside head coach Gregg Berhalter. The club has opted against a large-scale stadium presentation with thousands of fans, in contrast to the fanfare that accompanied Leo Messi's arrival at Inter Miami.

Polish community reaction

Chicago's large Polish diaspora has welcomed the signing with enthusiasm. One supporter told RMF FM correspondent Paweł Żuchowski that the community sees Lewandowski's arrival as a point of pride. The fan noted that Lewandowski's name recognition extends far beyond the Polish community, recounting a conversation with a local non-Pole who told him he knew only two people from Poland: Lewandowski and Lech Wałęsa. The supporter added that Mexicans and people from various parts of the world in Chicago also know the striker well.

To jest wielki zaszczyt dla nas. Polonia jest bardzo zadowolona. Czekam na Roberta, Polonia oczekuje tego, żeby taka nasza polska krew tutaj znowu się pokazała na stadionie Chicago Fire.

Contract and Designated Player status

Lewandowski signed his contract at the end of June, committing to Chicago Fire through 2028, just as his four-year deal with Barcelona expired. The club described him in a statement as an "icon of world football." Media reports indicate he will earn nearly $20 million annually, a figure made possible by Major League Soccer's Designated Player rule, which allows clubs to sign up to three players whose wages and transfer costs exceed the league's salary cap.

A club with Polish roots

Chicago Fire, founded in 1997, has long been considered the most "Polish" club in MLS. Former Polish internationals Piotr Nowak, Jerzy Podbrożny, Roman Kosecki, and Tomasz Frankowski all played for the club. Between 2017 and 2019, Hungarian striker Nemanja Nikolić, signed from Legia Warsaw, was a star performer. The club won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season, with Polish players playing a key role in that championship run.

Pre-departure visit and first match

A day before flying to Chicago, Lewandowski visited the US Embassy in Warsaw, where he recorded a short interview for the embassy's Instagram account. Asked what Chicago fans should know about him, he replied that he "likes to celebrate titles" and that supporters would be "happy and satisfied with the results." He also named New York, Miami, and Los Angeles as US cities he would like to visit with his family beyond Chicago. When asked about his pizza preference, he chose New York-style thin crust over Chicago's deep dish specialty. His first potential match comes just two days after the presentation, with Chicago Fire hosting Vancouver Whitecaps at Soldier Field, though his participation has not yet been confirmed.

Kibice z Chicago powinni o mnie wiedzieć, że lubię świętować tytuły.

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