He came to the USA probably with the idea to finish career there, but after just one season, he is coming back to Europe. This time, he is coming to his homeland, which he left 13 years ago to go to Arsenal and then Chelsea. Olivier Giourd confirmed that he will be heading to Lille and he played his last game for Los Angeles FC today (a defeat to Vancouver). Former AC Milan striker agreed to terminate his contract and move back to France, where his new club needs him.Is Olivier Giroud the most underrated striker of his generation? 🤔Serie A 🏆Ligue 1 🏆Community Shield 🏆🏆🏆FA Cup 🏆🏆🏆🏆Champions League 🏆Europa League 🏆World Cup 🏆US Open Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IqdBqx97dC— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 27, 2025 The 38-year old striker spoke about his surprising decision.“If you had asked me the question a few years ago, I would have responded that it wasn’t the project to return. LOSC ticked a lot of boxes for me and my family. I hope to be useful for the team by being a leader on and off the pitch, a link between the players and the staff. I am excited by the idea of playing in the Europa League. Lille are a big club in France” he said following his final match for LAFC.Giroud is coming home?But unlike Giroud, who was obviously very happy to leave the USA and come back to his native country, Los Angeles FC coach Steve Cherundolo was not to happy and he even expressed disappointment with the striker’s goal record, since he only had five goals after 37 games.“We thank him for all of his knowledge and his experience that he openly shared with LAFC and, of course, for his efforts on the pitch. He may not have done as much as we expected when he arrived in terms of goals. We feel as though he didn’t fully adapt to the way that the team plays and that, in a different system, he may have performed better” said Cherundolo. In France, Giroud will fill the gap left by the departure of Jonathan David. Another striker, Chuba Akpom, has returned to parent club Ajax following the expiry of his loan. Rangers’ Hamza Igamane is also linked with a move to Lille as the club looks to reconstruct its forward line.FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025Monday22.00: (1.80) Inter (3.50) Fluminense (4.70)Tuesday04.00: (1.35) Manchester City (5.00) Al-Hilal (9.00)22.00: (1.67) Real Madrid (3.70) Juventus (5.50)Wednesday04.00: (1.80) Dortmund (3.60) Monterrey (4.60)***odds are subject to change***
