The American adventure of Olivier Giroud in Los Angeles will not have lasted very long. Arrived on the banks of the Pacific during the summer of 2024, the 38 -year -old striker joined his friend Hugo Lloris in the City of Angels. Unfortunately for him, the 2018 world champion could not adapt to the style of Lafc, nor to Major League Soccer. After 5 goals and 3 assists in 38 games, Giroud did not hesitate to fold luggage when he had the opportunity, six months before the end of his lease in the United States. Solicited by Lille to replace Jonathan David, the native of Chambéry was quick to find an agreement with the Californian club to break his contract.
At the end of his last MLS match against Vancouver, the Frenchman then confirmed that Lille would be his next destination. “I need to get a new challenge, and when I had the opportunity to come back to France, I seized it. (…) I think that the French are happy that Paul Pogba and I returned to the French championship. (…) If you had asked me the question a few years ago, I would have told you that it was not the project to come back (in France, editor's note). The LOSC has checked a lot of boxes for me and for my family. I hope I can be useful to the team, being a leader in the field and outside, a link between young people and the staff. I am also excited to play the Europa League. Lille is a big club in France. ”
Giroud back in L1, thirteen years after
Arrived in Paris to spend his medical examination there, Giroud did indeed officially engage with the Dogues. “A legend of French football is putting on the DOGUES jersey today! The LOSC and its president, Olivier Létang, are extremely honored to formalize the arrival at the club of Olivier Giroud. The French international striker (137 selections, 57 goals), top scorer in the history of the French team, has signed up with LOSC for a season, from Los Angeles FC (United States) “can we read on the press release published by the Champions of France 2021.
With the comeback of Olivier Giroud in Ligue 1 (thirteen years after leaving Montpellier and France to sign at Arsenal), our championship has decidedly become a place to relaunch some 2018 world champions, after the signing of Paul Pogba to AS Monaco. However, unlike the midfielder, Giroud will be able to start the championship. It remains to be seen if he will be effective at 38 years old.
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