MX23RW : Wednesday, January 8 12:09:53| >> :60:1033:1033:

AC Milan's Olivier Giroud 'verbally agrees move to MLS giants'

Olivier Giroud 'verbally agrees move to MLS giants'
© Reuters
AC Milan striker and all-time France top scorer Olivier Giroud reportedly verbally agrees to sign for MLS giants Los Angeles FC.

AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join MLS powerhouses Los Angeles FC.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal attacker has entered the final six months of his contract at San Siro, leaving him free to enter pre-contract discussions with foreign clubs.

Giroud's goalscoring powers have not waned despite his advancing years, as he has found the back of the net 14 times in 36 matches across all tournaments this season, in addition to chalking up nine assists.

However, France's all-time leading male goalscorer will celebrate his 38th birthday in September, and the Rossoneri have not been expected to sanction a new contract for Giroud as they plan for the future.

The World Cup winner seemingly has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet, though, and a move to North America has been touted should he call time on his career in European football.

A proposed switch to the United States is now said to be inching ever closer, as journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Los Angeles FC and Giroud have reached a verbal pact over a transfer, five months on from when the Black and Gold first registered their interest.

Giroud is expected to sign a contract until December 2025, which would keep him in MLS until after he turns 39, and a move should go through without any hitches once all the relevant documents are signed.

Which veteran players will Olivier Giroud join in MLS?

While a plethora of soon-to-be ex-players - and some athletes at the peak of their powers - have been seduced by the riches of Saudi Arabia, plenty more have opted to try their hand in MLS, most notably eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

The former Barcelona man headlines a quarter of ex-Blaugrana stalwarts on the books at Inter Miami, who also have Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in their ranks - boasting a combined age of 107.

Giroud's proposed move to MLS will also see the experienced Frenchman reunite with another 2018 World Cup winner in Hugo Lloris, now guarding the goal for Los Angeles FC, and he is the seventh-oldest player to make an appearance in the division this term.

Coming in at 37 years and two months old, Lloris is just two years younger than the oldest player in the current MLS season - 39-year-old Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan, once of Aston Villa, Hull City and Middlesbrough and still going strong six months before his 40th birthday.

Martin Caceres - a Champions League winner with Barcelona - is plying his trade with Los Angeles Galaxy, while Maya Yoshida, Teemu Pukki, Christian Benteke, Lorenzo Insigne, Ashley Westwood and Asier Illarramendi have all crossed the Atlantic to represent MLS clubs too.

ID:539839:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5516:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Olivier Giroud future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Olivier Giroud

Click here for more stories about AC Milan

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their fourth goal on March 17, 2024
Read Next:
Arsenal, Chelsea 'alerted to possible half-price deal for Gyokeres'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli19142330121844
2Atalanta BCAtalanta18132343202341
3Inter Milan17124145153040
4Lazio1911263327635
5Juventus18711030151532
6Fiorentina1895431181332
7Bologna177732521428
8AC Milan177642617927
9Udinese197482328-525
10Roma196582624223
11Torino195681924-521
12Empoli194871822-420
13Genoa194871627-1120
14Parma194782534-919
15Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1961122442-1819
16Como184682030-1018
17CagliariCagliari1945101832-1417
18Lecce1945101131-2017
19VeneziaVenezia1935111832-1414
20Monza1917111727-1010


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!