Antoine Griezmann to leave Atlético Madrid and join MLS’s Orlando City | La Liga

Orlando City SC finalized the long-awaited signing of Atlético Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old French striker is signed from July 2026 until the 2027-28 season with an option for 2028-29. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Bringing Antoine to Orlando is a historic moment not only for our club, but also for our city, our fans and for Major League Soccer,” said team owner and president Mark Wilf. “He is one of the most gifted, accomplished and influential players of his generation, and his decision to choose Orlando City reflects the mission and culture of our club. Our goal is to consistently build a championship-caliber team every year, and the addition of a world-class player like Antoine reinforces that commitment and our belief in what the club can achieve.”

Griezmann joins an Orlando City team that enjoys an increasingly heated intrastate rivalry with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. However, the Lions suffered early in the 2026 season, with four defeats in their first five games leading to the dismissal of head coach Óscar Pareja in March.

Griezmann will join the Lions as a Designated Player when the MLS secondary transfer window opens in July, pending medical clearance and receipt of his international documents.

“I am very excited to start this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,” Griezmann said. “From my first conversations with the club, I sensed a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me. I can’t wait to make Orlando my new home, meet the fans, feel the energy of the Inter+Co Stadium and give everything I have to help the team achieve great things.”

Griezmann has recorded 13 goals and four assists in all competitions for the La Liga side this season.

The 2018 World Cup winner spent 10 seasons at Atlético Madrid, where he is the club’s all-time leader with 211 goals in all competitions from 2014-19 and 2021-26. He was voted La Liga Player of the Year in 2015–16 and placed third in the Ballon d’Or voting in 2016 and 2018. His 488 matches are the fourth record in Atlético history.

He has won three trophies with Atlético: the 2014 Spanish Super Cup, the 2018 Europa League and the 2018 UEFA Super Cup. Atlético will play in the Copa del Rey final next month and will face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals. Griezmann has also played for Real Sociedad and Barcelona.

“Let’s leave the future in the future because I’m not leaving yet,” Griezmann said in comments provided by Atlético. “I still have months left in this jersey, months to give my life on the pitch, both in our stadium and outside, to lift this Copa del Rey and dream of going as far as possible in the Champions League.”

“Antoine is a complete footballer – creative, intelligent, clinical – and he has proven himself on the biggest stages of the game,” Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira said. “Beyond his talent, he brings leadership, a relentless drive and a championship mentality that will elevate everyone around him. This is a signature statement for our club and our ownership group, and we are thrilled to welcome Antoine and his family to Orlando.”

Griezmann has scored 298 goals and 132 assists in 792 professional matches in Spain. He scored 44 goals in 137 caps for France before retiring from international competition in 2024.