Olivier Giroud is set to make a French football comeback, joining Lille on a one-year deal, the club announced Tuesday.
Giroud left MLS side LAFC last week, bringing back to French football the striker who scored 57 goals in 137 appearances for France and helped Les Bleus lift the World Cup in 2018. His last Ligue 1 stint was with Montpellier, where he won the 2011-12 title before moving to Arsenal.
"I'm very happy and excited to be back in France, home," Giroud said. "It made perfect sense to return to Ligue 1, 13 years after leaving it. I've always considered Lille a top French club. It's a young and talented squad, which needs experienced players like me, so I'll also be there in that role."
His six-year spell at Arsenal yielded over 100 goals. He then moved to Chelsea, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2021, and played three seasons at AC Milan, lifting the Serie A trophy in 2022, before his MLS stint with LAFC.
At 38, Giroud's one-year contract with Lille injects proven firepower and veteran leadership into a squad known for nurturing young talent. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how his experience across Europe's top leagues shapes Lille's title ambitions.
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Olivier Giroud signs one-year deal with French Ligue 1 club Lille
cgtn.com
