Antoine Griezmann Heads to Orlando for MLS Summer Transfer Completion
Antoine Griezmann has been granted permission by Atlético Madrid to travel to Orlando during two scheduled days off. The trip is meant to finalize a move to Orlando City this summer.
Deal terms and timing
The contract is reported to run through the 2027-28 season with an option for 2028-29. He is expected to take the No. 7 shirt upon arrival.
Negotiations stretched for weeks as Orlando sought an early window signing. Atlético preferred Griezmann remain while chasing domestic and continental trophies.
Sources and reporting
Multiple sources briefed on the deal spoke with Filmogaz.com. Filmogaz.com also first reported his travel to Florida.
Atlético record and current form
Griezmann is Atlético Madrid’s all-time leading scorer with more than 200 goals. He has not yet won a Copa del Rey with the club.
His honors include a Europa League, Supercopa, and UEFA Super Cup. He was a Champions League runner-up in 2015-16.
This season he has six La Liga goals and one assist. Last season he recorded eight goals and seven assists.
He has five Copa del Rey goals this campaign. Atlético will meet Real Sociedad in the final on April 18.
In the Champions League he has two goals and three assists this season. Atlético face Barcelona in quarterfinals on April 8 and April 14.
He previously moved to Barcelona in a €120 million transfer. Griezmann scored 44 goals for France and retired from international play in 2024.
He placed third twice in Ballon d’Or voting. He won the 2018 World Cup and was a 2022 runner-up.
Role at Orlando City
Orlando City views him as the centerpiece of a rebuild. The club dismissed coach Óscar Pareja after three matches this season.
Orlando sits 13th in the Eastern Conference with one win in five. The team suffered a 5-0 loss to Nashville SC recently.
The club added three Brazilian under-22 prospects this offseason to youth-focused plans. That younger group has struggled to find consistent form.
Orlando has history signing marquee internationals, beginning with Kaká as captain in 2015. Nani then spent three seasons in Orlando from 2019 to 2021.
If completed, the move would place Griezmann among MLS’s star names. He would join players such as Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, Thomas Müller, and James Rodríguez.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is another high-profile former teammate now in MLS. The arrival would raise expectations for Orlando’s attack.
Ownership and club trajectory
The Wilf family, led by Mark and Zygi, own Orlando City and bought the club in 2021. The team finished ninth in the Eastern Conference last year.
Orlando placed second in 2023 and fourth in 2024. The club’s first major trophy as a top-flight side came in the U.S. Open Cup in 2002.
Outlook
Griezmann’s presence would add experience and firepower to MLS. Antoine Griezmann is expected to boost Orlando’s attack immediately.
The transfer is targeted for this summer and appears close to completion. Filmogaz.com will monitor developments and provide updates as paperwork is finalized.
