Robert Lewandowski signs with Chicago Fire as MLS Designated Player
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski officially joined Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire on 29 June 2026, ending his tenure with FC Barcelona. He signed a Designated Player contract that runs through the 2027/28 season and is reported to earn about $20 million per year, making him the league’s second‑highest paid player after Lionel Messi. The 37‑year‑old captain of Poland’s national team will wear the number 9 jersey and is expected to boost the club’s on‑field performance – Chicago Fire were third in the Eastern Conference at the time of his arrival – as well as its global profile, particularly among the city’s sizable Polish community.
Coach Gregg Berhalter highlighted Lewandowski’s leadership and marketability, saying the signing aligns with the club’s ambition to become a world‑class organization. The transfer has also drawn attention to the player’s family relocation; his wife Anna Lewandowska posted a candid Instagram note expressing fear and stress about moving to Chicago with their children. Meanwhile, another Polish forward, Przemysław Płacheta, has been presented by Austin FC, underscoring a growing Polish presence in MLS.
The move reflects MLS’s strategy of attracting internationally renowned talent to raise the league’s competitiveness and commercial appeal.