Chicago Fire's Bastian Schweinsteiger signs one-year contract to stay at club

Bastian Schweinsteiger has signed a one-year contract to remain with the Chicago Fire, the club announced on Wednesday.

Schweinsteiger, 34, has spent the past two seasons with Chicago, making 61 league and cup appearances and scoring seven goals.

While financial details were not disclosed, he will remain a Designated Player in 2019.

"Let's raise a trophy. I believe in this club and I believe that we can be champions," Schweinsteiger said.

"This American journey has been very special for me and my family. I love being a part of the Chicago Fire, and we appreciate how the city has embraced us with open arms."

Schweinsteiger made an immediate impact after joining the team prior to the 2017 campaign, leading them to their first postseason berth in five years.

The Fire struggled to maintain that form in 2018, failing to make the playoffs, but Schweinsteiger was ever-present, playing in 31 league matches and scoring four goals.

"In a lot of ways, Basti has come to embody our club, the prototypical Fire player and the spirit of Chicago: industrious, intelligent, enthusiastic, talented and world-class," Fire club president and GM Nelson Rodriguez said.

"His return demonstrates our continuing effort to build a championship program, both on and off the field."

Schweinsteiger is one of the most decorated players in the modern game. He spent the bulk of his career with Bayern Munich, winning eight Bundesliga championships, seven German Cup titles, two League Cups, two German Super Cups and the Champions League.

He made 500 appearances in all competitions for Bayern, scoring 68 goals, and also spent two seasons at Manchester United, where he made 35 league and cup appearances, scoring twice.

The native of Kolbermoor, Germany, enjoyed a stellar career at international level as well, making 121 Germany appearances, scoring 24 goals, and captaining the team that won the 2014 World Cup.