Former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is close to a move to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
The 37-year-old Poland international left the La Liga club at the end of the season when his contract expired and is expected to sign a two-year deal in Chicago.
Last December, Fire said they had talks with Lewandowski over a potential move.
He has been on their ‘discovery list’, meaning no other MLS club can sign him without paying a fee to them and there has been constant dialogue between both parties.
As well as Fire, there had been interest from AC Milan and the Saudi Pro League in Poland’s record goalscorer, who is expected to become one of the highest earners in the MLS.
His arrival would be a huge boost to Chicago, which boasts one of the largest Polish communities outside of Poland.
Fire, who are currently third in the MLS Eastern Conference having made their first play-off appearance last season, return to action after the World Cup break on Friday, 17 July when they take on Vancouver.
Lewandowski spent 12 seasons in Germany’s Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, winning 10 league titles and leading Bayern to the 2020 Champions League title.
He was considered the frontrunner to win the 2020 Ballon d’Or but the award was not given out that year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He finished second in Ballon d’Or voting in 2021, and won the Best Fifa Men’s Player Award in 2020 and 2021.
After moving to Barcelona in 2022, he helped them win three La Liga titles and the 2025 Copa del Rey, scoring 120 goals in 193 games.
However, a number of injuries over the past year meant he started only 17 league games last season.
Since his departure, Barca have signed Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon on a five-year deal worth more than 80m euros (£69.3m), while they await a decision on Marcus Rashford, who spent last season on loan from Manchester United.
Reports on Monday say they are also interested in a move for England striker Harry Kane, who is in the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich.
