CHICAGO (AP) — Former Barcelona striker and Poland’s all-time leading scorer Robert Lewandowski is coming to Major League Soccer to play for the Chicago Fire.
The Fire announced a two-year contract with Lewandowski on Monday, pending final confirmation of his visa and international transfer certificate.
Lewandowski joins a Chicago team that ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 26 points in 14 games during the league break leading up to the World Cup. The franchise also opened a new training center last year and is building a soccer-specific stadium, McDonald Park, scheduled to open in 2028.
Lewandowski, who turns 38 on August 21, could play his first game with his new team on July 16 against Vancouver. He helped Barcelona win three La Liga titles in four seasons. Including this yearwon one title in Spain’s national competition, the Copa del Rey. he scored 119 goals Appeared in 192 games with the club.
Lewandowski said an emotional farewell at the Camp Nou stadium on May 17, but was thrown into the air by his teammates after the match. 3-1 victory Against Real Betis. They too lined up and applauded Lewandowski as he headed to the locker room.
Lewandowski leaves Bayern Munich Barcelona He played 384 Bundesliga games for Bayern and his former club Borussia Dortmund, scoring 312 goals and winning the German top flight 10 times.
Lewandowski has also played a record 167 games for Poland, starting with his debut goal against San Marino in 2008 at the age of 20. His 89 goals are almost twice as many as any other Polish player, but he has only appeared in two World Cups, his best result being a place in the last 16 in 2022.
he hinted at international retirement After Poland missed out on this year’s World Cup. Poland’s next scheduled game is the Nations League in September.
Lewandowski will be a designated player, one of three roster spots MLS teams can use to exceed the salary cap. His contract runs through the 2027-28 season, which includes the remainder of 2026 and a mini-season in 2027 next spring, after which the league moves to a summer-to-spring schedule to align with Europe’s system.
“We set out to build a world-class club that inspires greatness, unites Chicago, and wins championships. Robert embodies those values and embodies the standards this city deserves: being a champion and a competitor,” Fire coach Gregg Berhalter said. “His arrival strengthens our ambitions to compete for trophies and raises the club’s standards to the heights worthy of this city. We can’t wait to work with him and give Chicago a first-hand look at why he is one of the most respected sports icons in the world.”
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
