World Cup-winning French striker Olivier Giroud signs with Los Angeles FC.
LAFC on Tuesday formally announced the long-awaited move for 37-year-old Giroud, who is leaving Europe after 18 years in the top professional leagues of France, England and Italy. Giroud confirmed on Monday that he would leave Milan for an MLS club this summer.
LAFC general manager John Thorrington said the club has been keen to add Giroud since last year, and they have been trying to land his services in the January transfer window. The 2022 MLS Cup champions and 2023 runners-up then decided to wait for Giroud to become available this summer rather than sign another Designated Player for the current season.
“The way he fits really complements our attacking group,” Thorrington said. “We already have some incredible strikers here, but I think he will take us to the next level – not only with his own productivity, but I think you can see from his ability that he is not just a pure goalscorer. He’s very good at facilitating the game, and that’s what we saw, which is so compelling.”
Giroud will join LAFC on a free transfer on a contract that runs until 2025 with an option to extend his stay for another year.
Giroud is best known for his six productive seasons at Arsenal (2012-2018), followed by three years at Chelsea and Milan. He scored 285 goals in 716 games during his club career, while winning a wealth of trophies, including the Champions League with Chelsea three years ago. His 57 goals for France are the most in team history and he won the World Cup with his country in 2018. He is expected to play for France again this year at the European Championship, which starts next month.
It is unclear when exactly Giroud will make his debut for LAFC given his international commitments and the need to accelerate his recovery after a full season with Milan. Defender Giorgio Chiellini only made his LAFC debut in mid-July after signing with the club in May 2022 following a full season with Juventus.
Giroud still has two games left for Milan before the Serie A season ends. He is now fourth in Serie A with fourteen goals and is also one of the best playmakers in the competition.
“His productivity is incredible,” Thorrington said. “We have never just had a pure goalscorer. That’s not the way we play. I think his combination of skills, with his ability to link play, his ability to finish and his tactical mentality, will make him an incredible addition.”
LAFC are fifth in the Western Conference and manager Steve Cherundolo’s team have had no trouble scoring this season. The club’s 22 goals in league play are more than any MLS team except Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and crosstown rivals LA Galaxy.
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Giroud is reunited at LAFC with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his old teammate for France. Lloris left Tottenham to sign for LAFC this season.
“I think it helps that we have one of his best football friends as a goalkeeper in Hugo,” said Thorrington. “I don’t think that’s the only reason he comes, but I think it allowed for conversations on a different level than I could have with him. What is it like to play there? What is it like for your family? That helped Olivier make the decision.”
Giroud’s success with France and some of Europe’s best teams has made him an international star. But Thorrington said that is not the main motivation for the move by LAFC, who also signed Gareth Bale on a short, trophy-winning spell in 2022.
“We are a star city and we have never shied away from that [the fact] that matters in LA,” Thorrington said. “But that’s why we never invest. It has to be the right combination, but especially when our owners met Olivier and you can see his hunger to win, it is very clear that he is coming here to help this club achieve the success that everyone wants.”