Robert Lewandowski joins Chicago Fire on two-year designated player contract after Barcelona exit

Transfer finalized

Chicago Fire confirmed on Monday evening that Robert Lewandowski has signed a two-year contract, becoming the club's third designated player. The deal makes the 37-year-old the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer, trailing only Inter Miami's Lionel Messi. Together with bonuses and marketing agreements, the Polish captain will earn roughly $20 million per year. The agreement runs until December 2028, making Chicago his first club outside Europe after previous stops at Lech Poznań, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

“We signed a contract with Robert Lewandowski, a global football icon and the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Polish national team.”

Lewandowski flew to the United States in mid-June with his agent Pini Zahavi, a lawyer and an advisor to finalize negotiations. The club had pursued him for months, even hosting him during the World Cup group stage to present the city and its long-term plans.

Barcelona farewell

Lewandowski announced his departure from Barcelona on 16 May, his contract expiring at the end of June. Over four seasons in Catalonia he made 193 appearances and scored 120 goals, sitting 14th on the club's all-time scorers list. His trophy cabinet there includes three La Liga titles (2023, 2025, 2026), one Copa del Rey (2025) and three Spanish Super Cups. In his final 2025‑26 campaign he played 46 matches and scored 19 goals, but his role shrank: he started fewer matches, often came off the bench and missed time with minor injuries.

A club with Polish roots

Chicago Fire has deep ties to Polish football. Founded in 1997 on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the club won its only MLS Cup in 1998 with a side built around Polish internationals Piotr Nowak, Jerzy Podbrożny and Roman Kosecki. That trophy remains the only one in the club's history. Nine Poles have worn the Fire shirt, most recently Przemysław Frankowski from 2019 to 2021. Other notable players to pass through include Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xherdan Shaqiri and former Legia Warsaw striker Nemanja Nikolić, who won the MLS Golden Boot in 2017.

New ambitions

Owner Joe Mansueto, a wealthy financier, is funding a brand-new soccer-specific stadium, McDonald's Park, a $750 million downtown venue along the river, scheduled to open in 2028. For now the team plays at Soldier Field, shared with the NFL's Chicago Bears. Head coach Gregg Berhalter, the former US men's national team manager, has rebuilt a moribund squad and guided it to third place in the Eastern Conference with 26 points, seven behind leader Nashville SC. Analyst Katarzyna Przepiórka told WP SportoweFakty that Berhalter's system, which relies on a lone striker supported by quality wingers, is an ideal fit for the Polish captain.

“The Chicago Fire owner, financier Joe Mansueto, is almost obscenely wealthy and — this is not always a given — he actually puts that money into developing the club.”

Reactions

Lewandowski himself posted a short video greeting on social media, saying "Hello Chicago Fire" while wearing the club's red jersey, set to music reminiscent of Michael Jordan and the film 'Space Jam.' Polish football personalities mostly welcomed the move, contrasting it favourably with offers from Saudi Arabia. Journalist Sebastian Staszewski noted the $20 million annual package as the second-largest in MLS, while others highlighted the vibrant Polish diaspora that will ensure a passionate crowd at Fire home matches.