“I am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,” said Antoine Griezmann, reflecting on his recent transfer from Atlético Madrid to Orlando City SC.
Griezmann, a 35-year-old forward, is set to join the Major League Soccer team in July 2026, with a contract that extends through the 2027-28 season and includes an option for 2028-29. This move comes after a highly successful tenure at Atlético Madrid, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals.
His career highlights include being a 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and scoring 44 goals for the French national team, making him the fourth-highest scorer in the team’s history. Griezmann has also logged an impressive 298 goals and 132 assists across 792 professional appearances.
Mark Wilf, co-owner of Orlando City SC, emphasized the significance of this signing, stating, “Bringing Antoine to Orlando is a landmark moment not only for our club, but for our city, our supporters and for Major League Soccer.”
Ricardo Moreira, the club’s sporting director, praised Griezmann’s abilities, noting, “Antoine is a complete footballer—creative, intelligent, clinical—and he is a proven winner on the biggest stages of the game.”
Griezmann’s decision to join Orlando City SC follows his retirement from international play in 2024, allowing him to focus on his club career. He has been a standout player in LaLiga, having been named Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season and winning the Golden Boot at the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
In the current season, Griezmann has already made his mark with 13 goals and four assists for Atlético Madrid, showcasing his enduring talent and competitive spirit.
As he prepares for this new chapter, Griezmann expressed his enthusiasm for the ambition and vision he sensed from Orlando City SC during their initial conversations. “From my first conversations with the Club, I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me,” he remarked.
With Griezmann’s arrival, Orlando City SC aims to elevate its status in Major League Soccer, and fans eagerly anticipate how his presence will shape the team’s future.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full implications of this transfer on both Griezmann’s career and the club’s aspirations.