Veteran striker Olivier Giroud is set to return to French football after 13 years abroad, signing a one-year contract with Ligue 1 side Lille on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old forward, who holds the record as France’s all-time leading goalscorer with 57 goals in 137 international appearances, left Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC last week to make the move.
“I’m very happy and excited to be back in France, home,” Giroud said in a club statement. “It made perfect sense to return to Ligue 1 13 years after leaving it. I’ve always considered Lille a top French club.”
Giroud, who last played in Ligue 1 during the 2011–12 season with Montpellier, led the club to their historic league title before departing for Arsenal. He went on to score over 100 goals for the London club, then joined Chelsea, where he won the 2021 UEFA Champions League.
Following his Premier League success, Giroud moved to AC Milan, playing a pivotal role in their 2022 Serie A triumph, before finishing the most recent chapter of his career in the United States.
At Lille, Giroud joins a youthful and promising squad, and he acknowledged the dual role he expects to play. “It’s a young and talented squad, which needs experienced players like me. So I’ll also be there in that role,” he added.
Giroud retired from international football in 2023, capping a distinguished career with a World Cup victory in 2018 and multiple appearances in major tournaments for France.
Lille will hope his leadership and experience can bolster their domestic campaign and European ambitions in the 2025–26 season.
Written By Rodney Mbua
