Robert Lewandowski, former Barcelona striker and Poland’s all-time leading scorer, has signed a two-year contract with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, the club announced Monday. The agreement is subject to the finalization of Lewandowski’s visa and international transfer certificate.

Lewandowski, who will turn 38 in August, is expected to make his debut for Chicago on July 16 in a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. He joins the Fire as they sit third in the Eastern Conference with 26 points from 14 games at the MLS break for the World Cup. The franchise recently inaugurated a new training facility and is continuing construction on McDonald’s Park, a soccer-specific stadium scheduled to open in 2028.

Lewandowski brings a decorated European career to MLS. He spent four seasons at Barcelona, winning three La Liga titles, including the 2022-23 season, and one Copa del Rey trophy. During his time with Barcelona, Lewandowski scored 119 goals in 192 appearances. His emotional farewell at Barcelona’s Camp Nou came May 17, following a 3-1 victory against Real Betis, when teammates celebrated by lifting him into the air and applauded as he left the pitch.

Prior to Barcelona, Lewandowski was a prolific scorer in Germany’s Bundesliga, netting 312 goals in 384 appearances combined for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. He joined Barcelona in 2022 in a $52 million transfer after a decade in the Bundesliga, where he helped secure 10 league championships.

On the international stage, Lewandowski has appeared in a record 167 matches for Poland since his 2008 debut, and has scored 89 goals, nearly double that of any other Polish player. Despite his scoring record, Poland has qualified for the FIFA World Cup only twice during his international tenure, with their best result being the round of 16 in 2022. Following Poland’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Lewandowski has hinted at retirement from international play. Poland’s next fixtures are scheduled for the UEFA Nations League in September.

Lewandowski will join the Chicago Fire as a designated player, a status MLS teams use to sign high-profile talent outside the salary cap. His contract will cover the remainder of the 2026 season, the 2027 mini-season, and the full 2027-28 campaign as MLS transitions to a summer-to-spring schedule aligning with European leagues.

Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter emphasized Lewandowski’s impact on the club’s ambitions, describing him as a champion and competitor who embodies the standards the city deserves. Berhalter expressed enthusiasm for the forward’s arrival, stating it elevates the club’s aspirations and quality.