Olivier Giroud to join Lille after terminating LAFC deal – sources
Olivier Giroud should join the French club Lille, told ESPN after the LAFC confirmed on Friday that it had agreed to terminate the French striker’s contract.
The winner of the 2018 World Cup had another six months in his contract in Los Angeles but wanted to return home, said sources, 13 years after leaving Ligue 1.
The Lafc hierarchy did not support itself on its way and sources told ESPN that an agreement to leave the club, where it arrived in 2024, had been found on Thursday.
His last match for Lafc will take place on Sunday against Vancouver and he will arrive in France next week to sign his contract.
“I would like to thank all the fans, my teammates and LaFC staff for having made a pleasant stop in my career,” said Giroud in LaFC’s declaration. “I am happy to have played a role in the success of Lafc.
“To win a trophy last season in participation in the Club World Cup, it was a great experience in Los Angeles for me and my family.”
Giroud, 39 years old in September, is expected to sign a two -year contract with Lille, who finished fifth last season in the French elite and will play in the Europa League next year.
Lille was looking for an experienced player to lead his young team. Giroud will replace Jonathan David, who left the club at the end of his contract.
Giroud played for the last time in Ligue 1 with Montpellier, who won a surprise title in 2012 before his departure for the Premier League.
The former Arsenal striker had trouble during his year with Lafc, with only five goals in 37 appearances in all competitions.
“Olivier was an exemplary professional during his stay at the LAFC,” said co -president and managing director of Lafc John Thorrington, in a statement. “He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped raise everyone around him.
“Olivier was a great ambassador for the club on and off the field. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him, his wife Jennifer, and his family all the best in this next chapter.”
Lafc is suddenly a team in full transition after a race without three game victory at the Club World Cup earlier this month. Coach Steve Cherundolo has already announced that he would leave the club to return to Germany after the season, and Lafc could be in Denis Bouanga as the only player designated next month.
Lafc added that Dutch winger Javairô Dilrosun loan from the American club earlier this month, but the loan does not happen until July 24. Dilrosun replaced CENGIZ ünder, whose disappointing mandate of the MLS ended this month.
The long lawsuit of Lafc d’Antoine Griezmann is also sterile earlier this month when the French star extended his contract with Atlético Madrid until 2027.
Lafc (7-4-5) is still sixth in the Western Conference classification with two or three games in hand on each club above, and he has a silver infusion by beating American in a game match to reach the club World Cup.
The information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
