Robert Lewandowski is set to join Chicago Fire on a two-year deal after leaving Barcelona as a free agent. Gregg Berhalter has not been shy about the pitch either, saying the striker would be a strong signing for the club, the league and the city of Chicago, while comparing his ability with Lionel Messi.

Chicago's pitch for a marquee signing

Berhalter told goal.com: "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. We see him right up there with Messi in terms of ability, and it'd be great for the city of Chicago."

That is a big statement, but it is also backed by the numbers. Lewandowski scored 120 goals in 193 games for Barcelona, and won three La Liga titles in four years there. Chicago are not signing a fading name for the back pages. They are trying to land a player who still reads as a headline act.

The move and the rivals Chicago beat

There is still a small procedural wrinkle. Some reports have framed the move as agreed, while others have said the paperwork is still to be signed and completed next week. The safe read is that Chicago are very close, not that the deal has already been announced by the club.

Lewandowski visited Chicago earlier this month to inspect the club's facilities and discuss the project. The Athletic also reported interest from AC Milan and the Saudi Pro League before Chicago emerged as the destination, which makes the visit look like more than a courtesy stop.

The other detail that stands out is where Chicago sit now. They are third in the 2026 Eastern Conference and five points behind Inter Miami, with a game in hand. This is a team in the race already, not a side waiting for a rebuild, and that is the sort of context that makes a two-year deal with Lewandowski make sense.

The next step is the signing. If that goes through as expected, Chicago will have one of the biggest names MLS has added in years.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →