Olivier Giroud joins LAFC – Among top over 35 goalscorers in Europe

Now official 

Olivier Giroud will leave AC Milan this summer and join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. The MLS club confirmed the transfer on Tuesday morning. Giroud will join LAFC after Euro 2024 in Germany and will sign a Designated Player contract that will run until 2025 with a club option for 2026

“It is an incredibly exciting day for all associated with LAFC to welcome Olivier, his wife Jennifer, and his family to the club,” LAFC Co-President& General Manager John Thorrington said. “Olivier has a clear hunger to win, which he has done consistently throughout his club and international career. His championship ambition and his qualities as a man and as a player directly align with ours as a club, therefore we believe Olivier will be a great addition as we continue in our pursuit of more trophies.”

Indeed, with LAFC having already signed his former French national teammate Hugo Lloris ahead of this season, Giroud now becomes the latest World Cup winner to join the club. But what can the 37-year-old striker add to the MLS Club?

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 fourth in Serie A, scoring 14 goals and eight assists in 33 games. Only Lautaro Martínez (24 goals) and Dušan Vlahović (16 goals) and Victor Osimhen (15 goals) have scored more often. 

Among all players over 35 playing in any of Europe’s top 10 leagues, Giroud also ranks fourth, just behind Fenerbahce’s Edin Dzeko (18 goals), Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (17 goals) and Twente FC’s Ricky van Wolfswinkel (15 goals). Giroud’s 25 goal contributions across all competitions also rank him in the top 10 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.