LAFC is in advanced talks with Olivier Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer, about a potential summer deal when his contract with AC Milan expires, sources briefed on the talks tell The Athletic.
No agreement is imminent, as Giroud considers his options ahead of the summer. Giroud could stay at Milan, go elsewhere in Europe or head to the Middle East if he doesn’t reach an agreement with LAFC.
LAFC has his MLS discovery rights, meaning they have priority to sign him ahead of any MLS club, showing their seriousness in these talks.
Giroud’s long-time France teammate, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, joined LAFC this year. The center forward would lead an attack currently stacked with reigning MLS golden boot winner and fellow Frenchman Denis Bouanga and Uruguay international Cristian Olivera. LAFC has reached consecutive MLS Cup finals, winning in 2022 after claiming the Supporters’ Shield that year, as well.
Giroud won the World Cup with France in 2018 (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Giroud, 37, is in the midst of another excellent season with AC Milan this year. He has 12 goals and eight assists in 26 Serie A appearances (1,851 minutes). Milan sits second in Serie A and faces AS Roma in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
Since joining Milan from Chelsea in the summer of 2021, Giroud has been integral to Milan’s success, which included winning Serie A in his first season. He has 46 goals during his time in Italy.
Giroud is best known for his time with Arsenal, where he had 105 goals and 41 assists in 253 appearances for the Premier League club. He broke through with Montpellier, leading them to an unlikely league title in 2011-12. He won the Champions League and Europa League in four seasons with Chelsea, as well.
At the international level, Giroud helped France reach the World Cup final in both 2018 and 2022, beating Croatia in the 2018 final and losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final.
Giroud has 56 goals in 129 caps with France. He remains an active player for his country, called in for the March international window’s friendlies against Germany and Chile.
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(Photo: Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images)
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