Olivier Giroud headed to LAFC – Among top over 35 goalscorers in Europe

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Milan striker 

Could Olivier Giroud leave AC Milan this summer and join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC? According to a report by The Athletic earlier this month, LAFC hold the player’s discovery rights and have started talks with the 37-year-old Frenchman. Those talks have now advanced significantly with The Athletic reporting that a deal is now being closed to being finalized. Giroud would join LAFC after Euro 2024 in Germany and will sign a Designated Player contract that will run until 2025. 

O. Giroud

Centre-Forward

AC Milan

94 %

LAFC

Serie A

Major League Soccer

This isn’t the first time Giroud has been linked with a move to MLS. Back in 2019, the Whitecaps contacted Giroud. But Giroud made it clear to the Whitecaps that he would only consider a move to one of the big markets Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, New York, or Chicago. Four years later, one of those markets is seriously interested in the striker, opening the door for Giroud to move to MLS. 

Indeed, with LAFC having already signed his former French national teammate Hugo Lloris ahead of this season, Giroud could be tempted to move to America. But four years after the last time MLS came calling, the question must be asked: is he too old? 

Olivier Giroud to LAFC? Among the top goalscorers in Italy 

A quick glance at the database highlights that Giroud remains a very productive player, playing for one of the top teams in Italy. Giroud is currently third in Serie A, scoring 12 goals in 26 games. Only Lautaro Martínez (23 goals) and Dušan Vlahović (15 goals) have scored more often. 

Among all players over 35 playing in any of Europe’s top 10 leagues, Giroud also ranks third, just behind Fenerbahce’s Edin Dzeko (18 goals) and Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (13 goals). Giroud’s 14 goals across all competitions also rank him in the top 5 of all players playing in any of Europe’s top 10 competitions. With that form in mind, Giroud would be an unreal addition to LAFC. 

Two factors, however, could slow down the Frenchman once he arrives in MLS. Giroud won’t have the luxury of a long summer break to recuperate, and we have seen with Lionel Messi at the tail end of last season that that can impact even the best players. Another factor is travel, with West Coast teams, in particular, having to travel long distances for away games.

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