Former France forward Antoine Griezmann will leave Atletico Madrid this summer to join Major League Soccer side Orlando City. The 35-year-old is in his second permanent spell with the Spanish club and holds the record as their all-time top scorer.
Former France forward Antoine Griezmann will leave Atletico Madrid this summer to join Major League Soccer side Orlando City. The 35-year-old is in his second permanent spell with the Spanish club and holds the record as their all-time top scorer.
Approaching 300 goals in his club career, Griezmann has also represented Real Sociedad and Barcelona. His move to Florida is scheduled for July, with an agreement in place that could keep him in Orlando until 2029.
Speaking about the transfer, he expressed enthusiasm for the next phase of his career, highlighting the ambition and long-term vision presented by the club during early discussions. He also stated his eagerness to settle into his new surroundings and make Orlando his home.
Griezmann stepped away from international football in 2024, ending his time with France on 137 caps and 44 goals. During his international career, he was part of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup.
Griezmann initially joined Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2014 and went on to become one of the most important figures in the club’s history. Among his achievements was winning the Europa League in 2018.
Although Atletico secured their most recent La Liga title in 2021, Griezmann was at Barcelona at the time. He later returned to Atletico, first on loan before making the move permanent again.
Reflecting on his time with the club, he described Atletico as his home and its supporters as family. He acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving, emphasizing the deep connection built through years of memorable matches, goals, and shared passion.
Despite confirming his upcoming departure, Griezmann made it clear he remains fully committed for the remainder of his time in Madrid. He underlined his intention to give everything on the pitch in the months ahead, both at home and away.
Griezmann stressed that his immediate priority is finishing the current campaign on a high note with Atletico. He pointed to the ambition of lifting the Copa del Rey and progressing as far as possible in the Champions League.
While his future in the United States is already decided, he insisted that his focus remains firmly on present objectives. The forward aims to make the most of his remaining appearances in the Atletico shirt before beginning his new journey in Major League Soccer.
