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Robin Lod has signed with the Chicago Fire in free agency, sources told MIR97 Media. Lod signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club running until June 2028.
Lod, a 32-year-old Finnish international, has been one of the most consistent players in MLS across the last seven seasons, all of which he has spent at Minnesota United. The Loons declined his 2026 option at the end of the season and offered him a new deal, but the midfielder instead opted to move within the league and sign with Chicago instead. His 2.5-year deal is a product of MLS's calendar change, which will take effect in 2028.
In addition to providing a wealth of MLS experience dating back to his arrival in Minnesota in 2019, Lod is an incredibly valuable player for a Fire team continuing to build under Gregg Berhalter. The former HJK Helsinki, VPS, Panathinaikos, and Sporting Gijón player can be deployed as a central midfielder or a winger, significantly raising the floor for the Fire in both positions. Lod profiles as a natural fit in a Berhalter midfield that values positional fluidity and off-ball intelligence; his ability to play in central midfield is particularly valuable given
Brian Gutiérrez's recent departurefor Chivas Guadalajara and André Franco's ACL tear.
Lod has arguably been the most defining player for Minnesota United in the MLS era, featuring 185 times for the Loons across all competitions. He leads the team in goals all-time with 41 strikes, and trails just longtime club captain Michael Boxall in terms of appearances. Lod has also been a thorn in the Fire's side, scoring three times in five career matches against the Men in Red, including the equalizer in this July's U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal showdown at Allianz Field.
Internationally, Lod has been a regular for Finland's national team for over a decade, recording 83 caps since 2015.
He played every minute as theHuuhkajat
qualified for their maiden and, to date, only UEFA European Championships in 2021. Lod adds to the wealth of significant international experience on the Fire organization, which also includes USMNT World Cup veterans Kellyn Acosta and Omar González, Ivorian international Jonathan Bamba, Canadian international Joel Waterman, USA World Cup hopeful Chris Brady, and new additions Anton Salétros (Sweden) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa).Lod is the fifth confirmed addition of the offseason so far for the Fire as the team's 2026 roster continues to take shape. The club signed André Franco to a renegotiated permanent deal from FC Porto, added the aforementioned Salétros and Mbokazi from AIK and Orlando Pirates, respectively, and signed Fire II forward Jason Shokalook to a first team deal.
