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Robert Lewandowski has made a trip to the United States to visit Chicago as negotiations over a potential transfer to the Chicago Fire intensify, according to reports.
Lewandowski, who will turn 38 in August, is set to leave Barcelona this summer after scoring 120 goals in 193 appearances for the La Liga champions, cementing his status as one of football's greatest-ever strikers following illustrious stints with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund earlier in his career.
As originally reported by Men in Red, Lewandowski is in Chicago as he weighs up a potential switch to the Fire. The Major League Soccer club are working toward a deal that highlights Chicago's substantial Polish community, which is thought to be the largest in the world outside of Poland.
ESPN reports that Chicago is "closing in" on an agreement with Lewandowski, though crucially, a deal is "not done." The Athletic notes that the experienced striker has yet to signal a preference for his next destination, with offers reportedly on the table from clubs in both Europe and Saudi Arabia.
"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," Chicago coach Gregg Berhalter told Up & Adams. "We see him right up there with [Lionel] Messi in terms of ability, and it'd be great for the city of Chicago."
Chicago Fire Chasing Blockbuster Signing of Leon Goretzka
An ambitious summer transfer window has also seen Chicago enter the race for outgoing Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, a former teammate of Lewandowski during their time together in Germany.
Goretzka, who only turned 31 in February, is said to have attracted several high-profile offers from clubs across Europe, which would undoubtedly make a move to MLS a difficult proposition at this stage of his career.
"Maybe it's my last chance to go abroad," Goretzka admitted in March. "I really want to play competitive football again. We'll see what opportunities arise. I'm completely relaxed about it. I'm just going to let things unfold."
The experienced midfielder played alongside Lewandowski as Bayern claimed the 2019–20 Champions League title and departs the club this summer after eight remarkable years, during which he secured no fewer than seven Bundesliga championships.
How Could Chicago Fire Sign Both Lewandowski and Goretzka?
There is a significant obstacle in the Fire's pursuit of both players, as their financial demands would almost certainly require the use of Designated Player slots on the roster.
Of the three available DP spots, Chicago has already allocated two to Jonathan Bamba and Hugo Cuypers. There is clearly room for either Lewandowski or Goretzka, but not for both simultaneously.
Should Chicago manage to land both players, one would need to initially agree to waive a DP spot. It has become increasingly common in MLS for clubs to find creative solutions around the limited DP allocations as teams strive to assemble competitive squads.
Recent examples include Rodrigo De Paul's transfer to Inter Miami in 2025, where his contract was backloaded to occupy a DP spot six months after joining. Inter Miami and the Los Angeles Galaxy have both reportedly employed a similar approach in recent bids for departing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.
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Any such arrangement would naturally raise concerns about the long-term futures of both Bamba and Cuypers.
Cuypers, 29, is in the final six months of his deal and operates in the same position as Lewandowski, though he currently tops the MLS scoring charts with 13 goals in 11 matches. Bamba, meanwhile, has had an inconsistent 18 months in Chicago but still has roughly half of his contract remaining.