Olivier Giroud's American adventure in Los Angeles didn't last very long. Arriving on the Pacific coast in 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 failed to adapt to LAFC's style, nor to Major League Soccer. After scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists in 38 matches, Giroud didn't hesitate to pack his bags when he had the opportunity, six months before the end of his contract in the United States. Approached by Lille to replace Jonathan David, the Chambéry native was quick to reach an agreement with the Californian club to terminate his contract.
After his last MLS match against Vancouver, the Frenchman then confirmed that Lille would indeed be his next destination. “I need to take on a new challenge, and when I had the opportunity to return to France, I seized it. (…) I think the French are happy that Paul Pogba and I are returning to the French league. (…) If you had asked me the question a few years ago, I would have told you that it was not the plan to return (to France, editor’s note). LOSC ticked a lot of boxes for me and for my family. I hope I can be useful to the team, by being a leader on and off the pitch, a link between the young players and the staff. I am also excited about the idea of playing in the Europa League. Lille is a big club in France.”
Giroud returns to L1, thirteen years later
Having arrived in Paris for his medical, Giroud has indeed officially signed with the Dogues. "A legend of French football is donning the Dogues jersey today! LOSC and its president, Olivier Létang, are extremely honored to formalize the arrival of Olivier Giroud at the Club. The French international striker (137 caps, 57 goals), the top scorer in the history of the French national team, has signed with LOSC for a period of one season, from Los Angeles FC (United States) ," we can read in the press release published by the 2021 French champions.
Olivier Giroud is 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 🇫🇷
— LOSC (@losclive) July 1, 2025
Olivier Giroud est 𝒅𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒏 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 🇫🇷@NBFootball pic.twitter.com/6N074eUwMx
With Olivier Giroud's return to Ligue 1 (thirteen years after leaving Montpellier and France to sign for Arsenal), our league has definitely become a place to revive some 2018 world champions, following the signing of Paul Pogba from AS Monaco. However, unlike the midfielder, Giroud will be fit to start the season. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to perform effectively at 38 years old.
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