Fire officially sign Lewandowski

Photo: FC Barcelona

CHICAGO, IL–It is now official. Robert Lewandowski is now a member of Chicago Fire FC signing a two year deal with the club. He is expected to be one of the highest paid players in MLS.

Lewandowski is one of the most prolific strikes in the world scoring over 700 career goals for club and country. In 517 appearances with Borussia Dortmund (131), Bayern Munich (238), and FC Barcelona (83) across 16 seasons, he has scored 395 goals. The season before last saw Lewandowski score 42 goals in all competitions, though he would score just 19 this past season. With Poland, he has scored 89 goals in 167 caps.

He will join an already potent attack that includes the league’s leading scorer in Hugo Cuypers and the club as a whole scored a single season club record 68 goals last season. The hope for the Fire is that Lewandowski will take the Fire to the next level in terms of exposure and status.

“From the day Joe Mansueto and I met for the first time, we set out to build a world-class Club that inspires greatness, unites Chicago and wins championships. Robert embodies those values and represents the standards this city deserves: a champion and a competitor,” said Gregg Berhalter, Chicago FC Director of Football and Head Coach.

“His arrival reinforces our ambition to compete for trophies and raises the standards for the Club to heights worthy of this city. We cannot wait to get to work with him and have Chicago see first-hand why he is among the most revered sporting icons in the world.”

Lewandowski will occupy a Designated Player slot and an international roster spot, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. His contract will run through the 2027-28 MLS season.The hope is that he will be eligible to play when the Fire return from World Cup break on Thursday, July 16th at Soldier Field against Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30pm CT, Apple TV).