Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter has made it abundantly clear that the MLS side are hopeful of signing free-agent Robert Lewandowski this summer. The Polish striker, 37, is deep into the twilight of his career and saw his influence diminish in Catalonia after scoring 42 times across all competitions last season.
Lewandowski Departs Barcelona
Lewandowski said his goodbyes to Barcelona at the end of a successful 2025–26 season for the Blaugrana, who retained their La Liga title at a canter. It was decided rather late in the 2025–26 season that Lewandowski would depart Barcelona following the expiration of his contract in June.
The veteran departs with an impressive Barça legacy, scoring 120 goals in 193 appearances and lifting La Liga three times. He notched almost 1,000 fewer minutes in La Liga this season, as Ferran Torres was often preferred. Lewandowski found the back of the net just 19 times—his worst goalscoring campaign since the 2010–11 season.
Chicago Fire Confirm Interest
"I can speak freely because he is no longer a Barcelona player, and he is someone we want to sign," Berhalter asserted in statements collected by Polish media outlets.
Talks between the MLS franchise and Lewandowski's entourage reportedly started in December, but have ratcheted up in recent weeks as it became clear that the striker wouldn't be spending another year with Barça.
"We have spoken with Robert Lewandowski and with the people who represent him. I am convinced that a player of his level has other offers on the table, but our communication has been frequent and very positive," Berhalter added.
Major Win for Chicago Fire
Fitness setbacks and niggles meant Barcelona had to carefully manage Lewandowski this season. At 37, he's not the striker he once was, but his sharpness in front of goal hasn't ceased. Last term, the Pole went stride for stride with Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Pichichi Trophy, scoring 27 times. Reduced minutes brought that haul down to 14 this time around.
Not yet thinking about retirement, Lewandowski is set to move away from the spotlight of Europe and opt for a novel experience via MLS. He admitted earlier this month that he would be interested in "an option in a lower league," and there's no hiding just how big a win the 37-year-old would be for the Chicago Fire.
"We have a top-level offensive team, but bringing in a footballer of his experience, leadership, and goalscoring ability can only make us stronger," Fire's head coach said.
The franchise has reached the MLS Cup playoffs only once since 2017, but has enjoyed a strong start to their 2026 campaign. Chicago are third in the Eastern Conference at the mid-season break, and they could be bolstered by one of the greatest goal scorers in soccer history when they return to action.