Antoine Griezmann will leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season to join Major League Soccer side Orlando City, the two clubs confirmed on Tuesday.
The French striker, Atletico’s all-time leading scorer, has signed a two-year contract with Orlando, becoming the latest high-profile veteran to move to North American football.
“Atletico’s forward travelled to Orlando, with the club’s permission, during the two days of rest granted to the first team, to finalise his contract with the Florida side,” the club stated.
Griezmann, 35, hopes to end his decade-long spell at Atletico with a second major trophy after winning the 2018 Europa League. Atletico are set to face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals next month and take on Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on April 18 in Seville.
The World Cup winner with France in 2018 retired from international football in 2024, finishing with 44 goals in 137 caps. He scored 211 goals for Atletico, surpassing Luis Aragones’ previous record of 173.
Griezmann joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014, played 488 matches for the club, and spent two years at Barcelona between 2019 and 2021 before returning on loan. This season, he has scored 13 goals in 43 appearances under Diego Simeone.
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He joins a list of European stars moving to MLS, including his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
“He is one of the most gifted, accomplished and influential players of his generation, and his decision to choose Orlando City reflects the mission and culture of our club,” said Orlando City owner Mark Wilf.
“Our focus is on consistently building a championship-caliber roster every year, and adding a world-class player like Antoine reinforces that commitment and our belief in what the club can achieve.”
Orlando, who have competed in MLS since 2015, have yet to win the MLS Cup and have lost four of their first five games in the 2026 season.
Atletico currently sit fourth in La Liga and are well-placed to secure next season’s Champions League, holding a 13-point lead over fifth-placed Real Betis.