Reports: Robert Lewandowski in final stages of deal to join Chicago Fire

Multiple outlets reported late Saturday that MLS club Chicago Fire FC and Robert Lewandowski are in the final stages of a deal, or have reached an agreement, that would bring the veteran Poland striker to Chicago this summer.

ESPN reported, citing a source, that the sides were in the “final stage” of a move. Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano said Lewandowski had agreed to join Chicago Fire and would sign early next week. NBC Chicago and other outlets also reported that Chicago and Lewandowski had either reached an agreement or were finalizing one, citing sources.

As of 01:41 UTC on June 29, however, Chicago Fire’s official news pages did not show an announcement confirming the signing, and no on-record confirmation from Lewandowski or his representatives was identified. At filing time, the move had been widely reported but not publicly confirmed by the club or player.

The Athletic, as cited by local coverage including the Daily Herald, reported that Lewandowski had agreed to a two-year contract with Chicago Fire and would become one of the highest-paid players in MLS. Those terms were reported by outlets citing people briefed on the matter and had not been publicly confirmed by the club.

If completed, the deal would rank as one of the most prominent signings in Chicago Fire history, according to local coverage. Lewandowski, 37, is one of Europe’s best-known strikers of the last decade, with starring spells at Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He won the Champions League with Bayern in 2020.

Multiple outlets reported that Lewandowski most recently played for Barcelona and was leaving as his contract ran through the end of June 2026, making him available on a free transfer. Several reports also said he visited Chicago in mid-June as part of the talks. Romano wrote: “EXCLUSIVE: Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire, HERE WE GO! The Polish striker has agreed to join Chicago Fire after visiting the club and city two weeks ago. Lewandowski will sign early next week, ready for new chapter in MLS. Big move.”

For Chicago, the reported pursuit fits a broader effort to raise the club’s profile under Gregg Berhalter, who serves as both director of football and head coach. Local reporting has said the Fire have been targeting marquee names as part of a wider sporting and commercial push tied to the club’s planned new stadium, scheduled to open in 2028. In MLS, clubs can use the league’s Designated Player mechanism to sign stars above the salary cap, and reporting has suggested Lewandowski would occupy such a slot.

Berhalter has spoken publicly about that strategy. “We’re trying to recruit world-class players. We think (Lewandowski would) be a great signing not only for the Chicago Fire, but for the league, to have a player of that caliber,” he said, according to reporting cited by the Daily Herald from The Athletic.

What remains pending is formal confirmation: an official announcement from Chicago Fire or Lewandowski, plus the completion of the paperwork and registration that typically follow a high-profile international move.