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. He notched almost 1,000 fewer minutes in La Liga this season.
Lewandowski's Barcelona Legacy
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. The veteran departs with an impressive legacy, scoring 120 goals in 193 appearances and lifting La Liga three times.
The Polish striker found the back of the net just 19 times—his worst goalscoring campaign since the 2010–11 season. 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.
The Move To MLS
It was decided rather late in the 2025–26 season that Lewandowski would depart Barcelona following the expiration of his contract in June. The move leaves Barça sore needing a center forward as they go in search of a third-consecutive Spanish top flight crown.
"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.
Not yet thinking about retirement, Lewandowski is set to move away from the spotlight of Europe and opt for a novel experience via MLS. Talks between the MLS franchise and Lewandowski's entourage reportedly started in December.
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.
A Major Win For Chicago
Lewandowski would be a mammoth win for the Chicago Fire. 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.
"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 addition of Lewandowski would be "extraordinary" for the league as well as the city of Chicago, which boasts a huge Polish diaspora.