Chicago Fire Pursue Leon Goretzka in Summer Recruitment Push
Chicago Fire are pursuing leon goretzka this summer, adding Bayern Munich’s departing midfielder to a recruitment push that already includes Robert Lewandowski. Goretzka turned 31 in February and has said he wants another shot at playing competitive football abroad.
Goretzka’s March comments
In March, he said, "Maybe it’s my last chance to go abroad" and followed that with, "I really want to play competitive football again. We’ll see what opport" Those remarks now sit at the center of Chicago’s pursuit, because they line up with a move the Fire are actively trying to make.
The timing also matters. Goretzka is leaving Bayern Munich this summer, which opens the door for a transfer, but the path is not simple. He is believed to have attracted several high-level offers from across Europe, so Chicago is competing against clubs that can offer him a move without the step into Major League Soccer.
Lewandowski visit to Chicago
The Fire’s push for Goretzka is tied to a broader summer plan that includes Lewandowski. The Barcelona striker traveled to the United States to visit Chicago as talks over a potential move ramped up, and he departs Barcelona this summer after scoring 120 goals in 193 games for the club.
Chicago coach Gregg Berhalter has already made the case for Lewandowski’s fit, saying, "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," and, "We see him right up there with [Lionel] Messi in terms of ability, and it’d be great for the city of Chicago."
Chicago’s Polish connection
The club is also leaning on a local factor that is hard to miss: Chicago’s Polish population is believed to be the highest in the world outside of Poland. That makes Lewandowski a natural headline move for the Fire, while Goretzka gives them another high-profile target as they try to build a summer that changes the roster quickly.
For now, Chicago has two parallel tracks running at once. One is a pursuit of Goretzka, who must weigh Europe against a move abroad. The other is Lewandowski, whose talks have already taken him to Chicago and whose decision could shape how far the Fire can take this recruitment swing.
