1 hour ago
18
Leon Goretzka has options. A lot of them. And the 31-year-old German international appears to have made up his mind about one thing: his next chapter won’t be written in Major League Soccer.
Goretzka’s contract with Bayern Munich expires on June 30, putting one of the Bundesliga’s most accomplished midfielders on the open market. Chicago Fire has entered discussions with the player, reportedly as part of a broader recruitment push that also includes Robert Lewandowski. But Goretzka’s preference, according to multiple reports, is to stay in Europe, where clubs like AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Roma, and Inter are all circling.
At 31, he remains a key figure in the German national team setup during the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle, and a move to MLS could complicate his standing with national team selectors who tend to favor players competing at the highest European level.
Goretzka arrived at Bayern Munich from Schalke 04 in 2018 on a free transfer. Over the course of his time in Munich, Goretzka racked up more than 300 appearances for the club across multiple Bundesliga title campaigns and Champions League runs.
AC Milan could use his physicality and experience in a Serie A midfield that has looked thin in recent seasons. Atletico Madrid, under Diego Simeone, has always valued the kind of relentless work rate that Goretzka brings. Manchester United would see him as a low-risk, high-reward addition to a midfield that has lacked consistency. Roma and Inter round out a shortlist that gives Goretzka genuine leverage in negotiations.
Free agents command higher wages precisely because there’s no transfer fee. Clubs that would never pay a significant sum for a 31-year-old midfielder can suddenly afford to offer competitive salary packages, and the competition among five or more serious suitors will only drive his earning potential higher.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·