Transfer Tracker: Fire Making Moves for 2026
Fresh off their most successful season in eight years, the Chicago Fire are strengthening their squad for the 2026 MLS season.
It’s still relatively early in the offseason, but there’s already been arrivals and departures aplenty.
We take a look at the major changes to the Men in Red’s ranks.
Mbokazi Reinforces the Back Line
The most widely discussed transfer of the Fire’s offseason so far has been Mbekezeli Mbokazi. The 20-year-old center back hails from South Africa, where he played for local giants Orlando Pirates. While he only made his senior debut in March 2025, Mbokazi quickly became a fan favorite amongst the Pirates faithful. He’s highly regarded by pundits and analysts for his fearless and aggressive play style.
Fire fans have had the opportunity to watch their recent addition on a big stage already – he was selected to represent South Africa at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. Mbokazi started all four of his team’s games as Bafana Bafana went out in the last 16. Primed for a transfer to a major European league in the coming years, Mbokazi will first bring his talents to MLS. He’s likely to get plenty of minutes alongside league veterans Jack Elliott and Joel Waterman.
Mixing Things Up in the Midfield
After a decade in the Fire system, homegrown talent Brian Gutierrez recently left the club to join Chivas de Guadalajara. A long-time fan of the Mexican outfit, Gutierrez leaves big shoes to fill in Chicago. The front office has worked tirelessly to bring in similarly attacking-minded midfielders to replace him.
First and foremost, the club made Andre Franco’s move to the Windy City permanent. The Porto loanee excelled after joining the side in August, but suffered a major injury just seven weeks later. Nonetheless, the club decided to exercise its buy option, though the Portuguese maestro is not expected to be match-fit for quite some time.
In the meantime, expect to see lots of Anton Salatros and Robin Lod. The former is a Swedish international who has spent the bulk of his career at AIK, across three separate stints. Known for his playmaking ability, the Swede will don the Fire kit for the first time in 2026. He’ll fill the void left by Rominigue Kouame, whose up-and-down spell in Chicago ended with the expiry of his loan.
Lod, a versatile player capable of playing in various midfield and attacking roles, arrived without much fanfare but could prove an invaluable addition. The 32-year-old Finn left Minnesota United as a free agent after six triumphant seasons and brings a depth of MLS experience to the squad. In addition to being a mainstay in the Loons’ lineup, Lod has earned 75 caps for the Finnish national team.
Other Shifts in the Roster
There have been numerous depth pieces added and removed from the Fire’s roster for the coming season. In addition to Mbokazi, Saletros, Franco, and Lod, the club has also brought in goalkeeper Josh Cohen and promoted forward Jason Shokalook.
Cohen, who last played for Atlanta United, will hope to get some minutes between the sticks in a fixture-heavy 2026 for the Fire. Shokalook, on the other hand, is an internal signing who has played for Fire II over the past two seasons. The 23-year-old won the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot in 2025, scoring 20 times in just 22 appearances. He also picked up an assist on his first-team debut in June.
A Major Signing Yet to Come?
Chicago’s already made a splash with its transfer business this winter, but the biggest move may be yet to happen. Over the last few weeks, rumors linking Polish striker Robert Lewandowski to the Fire have gained traction. The legendary marksman has held “positive talks” with club leadership, per BBC Sport. Chicago’s massive Polish population is said to be a major driving force in Lewandowski’s decision, along with the fact that the Fire holds his MLS discovery rights.
Ever since Gregg Berhalter took over as head coach and director of football, the Fire have made attempts to bring in a world-class superstar. They were considered serious contenders for the signatures of Neymar Jr. and Kevin de Bruyne, but lost out to Santos and Napoli, respectively. Could the third time be the charm? 37-year-old Lewandowski is still scoring goals in La Liga for Barcelona, but seems open to leaping across the pond in the coming months.
Keep an eye on his situation as the Fire continue to build their squad for 2026 and beyond.
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