The Atlético Madrid legend is traveling to the United States to sign with Orlando City, having reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the MLS side
Antoine Griezmann’s long-documented fascination with American sports is poised to transition from fandom to a professional reality this summer. During the current March international break, the French forward has been reportedly granted official permission by Atlético Madrid to travel to Florida to finalise his move to Orlando City.
This trip marks the conclusion of months of negotiations, during which the MLS side initially pushed for an immediate transfer in late February.
However, both Griezmann and the Atlético hierarchy agreed that the club’s all-time leading scorer deserved a more dignified exit, opting to delay his arrival in North America until the conclusion of the 2025/26 LaLiga campaign.
“BREAKING: Antoine Griezmann to Orlando City, here we go! Verbal agreement in place for French star to join MLS side,” transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted.
“Agreement on deal for July 2026, free transfer from Atlético. After deal for March rejected, agreement done for summer. Griezmann will travel this week to USA, as @Marca reported.”
🚨💣 BREAKING: Antoine Griezmann to Orlando City, here we go! Verbal agreement in place for French star to join MLS side.
Agreement on deal for July 2026, free transfer from Atlético.
After deal for March rejected, agreement done for summer. Griezmann will travel this week to… pic.twitter.com/e3Nb3Ienjx
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 23, 2026
The 35-year-old’s decision to move to Orlando City represents the fulfilment of a dream to end his professional career in the United States.
Despite being under contract at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano until 2027, Atlético have reportedly agreed to allow Griezmann to leave on a free transfer as a gesture of gratitude for his historic contributions.
Having retired from the French national team in 2024, Griezmann is utilizing this pause in the domestic schedule to wrap up the administrative procedures and sign a multi-year designated player contract that is expected to make him one of the league’s highest earners.
Griezmann aims for silverware in final chapter
Before he inherits the iconic number 7 shirt in Orlando, Griezmann remains committed to finishing his decade-long association with the Colchoneros on a competitive high.
The upcoming weeks represent a gauntlet for Diego Simeone’s side, featuring a high-stakes Champions League knockout tie against domestic rivals Barcelona and the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad on April 19.
Orlando City, who recently reached the MLS Cup semifinals in 2024, view Griezmann as the centrepiece of their title ambitions.
For Griezmann, the move allows him to transition into the final chapter of a career that has spanned nearly 800 professional appearances and 300 goals.
As he prepares to join the likes of Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min in the expanding constellation of MLS stars, the Frenchman’s immediate priority remains firmly in the Spanish capial, where he hopes to bid farewell with the same flair that defined his record-breaking tenure.
