Olivier Giroud (AP Image)
According to reports, the guaranteed element of the agreement is valid for 18 months, through the 2025 MLS season. Because LAFC owns his MLS discovery rights, they can sign him before any other MLS team.
The headlines during the upcoming summer transfer window are set to dominated by a certain Frenchman who goes by the name Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe has already announced PSG of his decision to not renew his contract beyond this season, and he has been confirmed to leave as a free agent, with Real Madrid seemingly appearing to be his most likely destination.
However, Mbappe’s national teammate, Olivier Giroud, might be on his way out of Europe at the end of the season as a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) is on the cards.
Olivier Giroud is currently contracted to Serie A heavyweights AC Milan, whom he joined from Chelsea in 2021 for free. In the upcoming summer, the Frenchman will be out of contract at the San Siro and has stalled all talks concerning the extension of his stay at Milan.
Now, though, the legendary French striker could be leaving European football at the end of the current term, as he is finalising his deal with MLS outfit Los Angeles FC.
As his contract with AC Milan expires this summer, Olivier Giroud is expected to sign with LAFC. After Euro 2024, which takes place from June 14 to July 14, he would join LAFC. On July 18, the MLS summer transfer window will open.
According to reports, the guaranteed element of the agreement is valid for 18 months, through the 2025 MLS season. Because LAFC owns his MLS discovery rights, they can sign him before any other MLS team.
Olivier Giroud has been pivotal for AC Milan ever since he joined the Rossoneri in 2021. In 121 games, the former Arsenal striker has scored 46 goals and was influential in the club lifting the Scudetto in the 2021-22 season. This term, Giroud has 12 goals and eight assists in the league, averaging a goal or assist every 92.5 minutes.
The most well-known part of Olivier Giroud’s career was spent with Arsenal, where he made 253 appearances and scored 105 goals and provided 41 assists. With Montpellier, he made a breakthrough and guided them to an unexpected league title in 2011–12. In four seasons at Chelsea, he also won the Europa League and the Champions League.
On the international front, the 37-year-old assisted France in making it to the World Cup finals in both 2018 and 2022. In the 2018 final, France defeated Croatia, but in the 2022 final, they lost to Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties.
Olivier Giroud recently appearanced in the international friendlies against Germany and Chile. The French forward has 56 goals in 130 caps for the country and is Les Bleus’ highest goal scorer of all time.
