Los Angeles FC striker Olivier Giroud has agreed to terminate his Major League Soccer contract and will return to his native France to join Ligue 1 side Lille this summer, according to multiple sources. The 38-year-old French football legend, who joined LAFC in 2024 after a storied career in Europe, is set to make a dramatic homecoming to French football after more than a decade away from Ligue 1. Giroud’s final match for LAFC is expected to be against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, marking the end of his brief but challenging stint in the MLS.
Giroud, France’s all-time leading goalscorer with 57 goals in 131 international appearances, signed with LAFC as a designated player on a contract through 2025, with an option for 2026. Despite high expectations, the former Arsenal, Chelsea, and AC Milan star struggled to find his form in the United States, scoring just five goals and providing three assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. His lone MLS goal came in a 3-3 draw against the Portland Timbers on April 19, 2025, making him the oldest European player to score in the league at 38 years, six months, and 19 days. Giroud also contributed a goal in LAFC’s 2024 U.S. Open Cup final victory, but his overall impact fell short of the club’s hopes for the World Cup-winning striker.
The move to Lille, a club that finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season and will compete in the Europa League in 2025-26, represents a return to familiar territory for Giroud. He last played in Ligue 1 with Montpellier in 2012, where he led the club to a historic league title and finished as the division’s top scorer. Lille president Olivier Letang confirmed the club’s interest in Giroud, praising his experience, professionalism, and human values as ideal for leading the club’s young squad. Sources indicate Giroud is expected to sign a one-year deal with Lille, with an option for an additional season, though his salary will be lower than the reported $3 million he earned annually at LAFC.
Negotiations between LAFC and Lille are nearing completion, with only minor administrative details remaining. The move comes as Lille seeks a seasoned replacement for Jonathan David, who departed the club at the end of his contract. Giroud’s wealth of experience, including a 2018 World Cup triumph with France, three FA Cups with Arsenal, and a UEFA Champions League title with Chelsea in 2021, is expected to bolster Lille’s ambitions under manager Bruno Genesio. The transfer also aligns with reports that LAFC is exploring options to sign Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller, suggesting a strategic shift for the MLS side.
Giroud’s decision to return to Europe was unexpected, as he had expressed enthusiasm for his American adventure after joining LAFC from AC Milan in July 2024. However, his struggles to adapt to the MLS, combined with Lille’s compelling offer, prompted the veteran striker to cut his contract short. The move marks the end of a brief chapter in Los Angeles, where Giroud teamed up with compatriot Hugo Lloris but failed to replicate the prolific form that defined his career in Europe’s top leagues.