France and AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud is reportedly finalizing a summer transfer to LAFC following Euro 2024 according to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert.
Giroud has been Milan’s top scorer this season finding the back of the net 14 times and adding nine assists. The 39-year-old Frenchman has aged like a fine wine.
His contract with the Italian giants will expire in June and it appears that a move to Major League Soccer is on the horizon.
Olivier Giroud LAFC transfer
BREAKING: LAFC is finalizing a deal to sign France all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud, per sources.
Deal would start after EUROs & guaranteed thru 2025.Giroud has 12g/8a in 1,851 league mins for AC Milan this year. Would be huge coup for LAFC. https://t.co/6N89E47iJB
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) March 27, 2024
LAFC have reached verbal agreement to sign Olivier Giroud on a contract valid until December 2025!
After interest revealed in October and formal bid earlier this week, there’s an initial agreement in place.Nothing signed yet but close to being done.
Here we go, soon ⏳ pic.twitter.com/SAw90r5IwU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 27, 2024
If the free transfer were to be completed, then the soonest Giroud would join LAFC would be in mid-July when the MLS transfer window opens.
MLS has a “discovery process” in which clubs can scout and sign players not under a contract with the league. A dumbed down version of it is that clubs can essentially “call dibs” on a player not in the league.
LAFC have the discovery rights to Giroud meaning the LA club have the first option to sign him.
Giroud’s move to LAFC would see him reunited the France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris who joined the club this year after 12 years with Tottenham.
Giroud is France's all-time leading scorer with 57 goals.
LAFC will be looking to reclaim MLS Cup after winning in 2022 against the Philadelphia Union but falling in the final to Columbus Crew last year.
Giroud would be a massive boost to an already stacked LAFC attack that has last season’s Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga and Uruguay youngster Cristian Olivera.
LAFC fans are spoiled in the transfer department. To potentially going from Gareth Bale to Giroud in two seasons is crazy.