Olivier Giroud is said to be close to returning to French football, as Lille works to finalize a deal to bring the experienced striker back to Ligue 1 from Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC. The 38-year-old French star, who became well-known with Montpellier and later played for Arsenal and Chelsea, is expected to make this move 13 years after he first left France in 2012.
Currently, Giroud has a contract with LAFC that lasts until December 2025, with an option for another year. However, talks between Lille and the player have been going well recently. This transfer is mainly due to Lille’s urgent need for more attacking players after Jonathan David left for Juventus and Chuba Akpom returned to Ajax after his loan.
Even though he is France’s all-time leading goal scorer with 57 international goals, Giroud has had a tough time showing his European skills in MLS, scoring only five goals in 37 games since joining LAFC in 2024. Still, he really wants to come back to European football and is reportedly ready to take a pay cut from his current $3.68 million salary to get a one-year deal with Lille, which could include an optional second year.
Giroud is especially excited about the chance to play under Lille’s new head coach Bruno Genesio, and club president Olivier Létang has praised Giroud’s leadership, professionalism, and values. “Olivier represents everything we want in this squad—experience, humility, and a winning mentality,” Létang said, suggesting that an official announcement might be coming soon.
While there are concerns about Giroud’s current fitness and performance—considering his age and limited success in MLS—his potential influence in Ligue 1, especially as a mentor for younger players, is clear. If the deal goes through, it would be a sentimental return for a player whose career started in the French lower leagues before shining on the biggest European stages.
