Robert Lewandowski sparks Chicago Fire transfer chaos after Bayern move

Chicago Fire have sold Major League Soccer’s leading scorer Hugo Cuypers to CF Monterrey just weeks after Robert Lewandowski joined the club, sources told Men in Red 97. The Belgian striker had netted 13 goals in 11 games before the World Cup break, topping the MLS charts on 18 June.

What happened?

Cuypers’ departure follows Lewandowski’s shock move to MLS, a signing that left Chicago with a gaping hole up front. The Fire had planned to pair the Belgian with Lewandowski in a star-studded attack, but the 29-year-old’s sale frees up a Designated Player roster spot and an international slot. Sources say the club now eyes Leon Goretzka, Lewandowski’s former Bayern Munich teammate, to fill the void.

Why it matters for Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski becomes Chicago’s main scoring threat for the rest of the season, but the bench looks thin. Behind him sit 23-year-old Jason Shokalook and 20-year-old Dean Boltz, who hasn’t played in 2026. Cuypers’ exit also leaves Mbekezeli Mbokazi as the club’s only All-Star representative, after the Belgian was one of three forwards voted into the game alongside Lionel Messi and Heung-min Son.

What comes next?

The Fire now chase Goretzka to bolster Lewandowski, but risk entering the season’s final stretch with little depth. Without Cuypers, the attack leans entirely on Lewandowski’s shoulders, raising questions over Chicago’s ability to grind out results. Mbokazi remains the lone All-Star, while the club weighs its next move in a suddenly fluid transfer market.