Antoine Griezmann will be crossing the Atlantic later this year. However, it will not be as a member of the France squad competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, but instead as he makes his move to Major League Soccer (MLS).
After 17 years of loyal service on the European stage, the French attacking midfielder will instead head to the United States to join Orlando City, with the the Lions announcing the signing on Tuesday, 24 March.
“He will join the club in July 2026 on a contract through the 2027–28 season, with an option for 2028–29 as a Designated Player,” the club, founded in 2010, said in a statement.
The move brings to an end 17 years in Spanish football. He helped Real Sociedad out of the Segunda and into the UEFA Champions League, won the Copa Del Rey with Barcelona, and became an icon of Atletico Madrid.
In terms of honours, while the UEFA Champions League and La Liga have thus far eluded him, he has nevertheless lifted the Spanish Super Cup (2014), the UEFA Europa League (2018), the UEFA Super Cup (2018) and the Copa del Rey (2021). And with Atleti still in contention in Europe’s most prestigious club competition this term, the 35-year-old will do everything possible to end his spell with Los Colchoneros by lifting the famous trophy.
The pinnacle of Griezmann’s career came in 2018, when he helped France lift the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia. Two years after shining on home soil by reaching the final of UEFA EURO, where he was named Player of the Tournament, he played a leading role in Didier Deschamps’ side, scoring four goals including a penalty in the 4-2 final win over Croatia, where he was named Player of the Match. Four years later, he was still part of the squad in Qatar where France reached another final, this time falling on penalties to Argentina.
After a UEFA EURO 2024 campaign that ended in a semi-final, Griezmann chose to call time on his international career, finishing with 137 caps and 44 goals. In addition to the World Cup, he also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021.
Griezmann will continue the tradition of leading French players making the move to MLS. He has long been drawn to American culture, as reflected in his love for basketball and the NBA. In Orlando, the Frenchman will follow in the footsteps of Youri Djorkaeff and Thierry Henry, who both played for the New York Red Bulls, as well as Blaise Matuidi at Inter Miami CF, and Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris, who joined Los Angeles FC, with the goalkeeper still playing in California.
Griezmann’s move to MLS has generated considerable excitement in Florida, while also bringing sadness to Atleti supporters. Leaving the Spanish giants won’t be easy for the Frenchman, as he made clear on social media.
“It’s not easy to put into words what I’m feeling, because this club is my home and you are my family,” he wrote. “It has been an incredible journey, full of unforgettable matches, goals, joy and a passion that only those who feel Atleti can understand.”
