Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is set to share a dressing room with one of world football’s greatest strikers after Robert Lewandowski agreed to join Major League Soccer [MLS] side Chicago Fire.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that the Poland captain has agreed to join the MLS club after visiting Chicago and holding talks with the club two weeks ago.
The 37-year-old is expected to sign his contract early next week, bringing an end to an impressive spell in European football.
The move comes just months after Chicago Fire signed South African international Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates. Chicago Fire were targeting Lewandowski as part of an ambitious recruitment drive, with the MLS outfit determined to establish itself among the league’s elite.
Once the transfer is completed as expected, Mbokazi will have the rare opportunity to train and play alongside one of the most prolific goal scorers of the modern era.
Lewandowski leaves Europe with an extraordinary résumé, having won league titles in Poland, Germany and Spain, as well as the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich. He has scored well over 700 career goals for club and country and remains Poland’s all-time leading scorer.
MBOKAZI TURNING EYES IN EUROPE
Mbokazi has been one of the standout players in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has formed a rock-solid defensive partnership alongside Ime Okon, keeping a crucial clean sheet as Bafana Bafana defeated South Korea 1-0 in their final Group A clash to seal a place in the Round of 32.
The Chicago Fire centre-back has started all three matches at the global showpiece under head coach Hugo Broos, anchoring a resilient backline that rewrote history as the first South African squad to ever reach the World Cup knockout rounds. Unsurprisingly, his standout performances in North America have already sparked intense interest from clubs in Europe.
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