Griezmann to Orlando City: Confirmed MLS Transfer & Atletico Exit

March 23, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Antoine Griezmann will leave Atlético Madrid at the end of the 2025-2026 season to join Orlando City SC, multiple sources confirmed Sunday. The move, long rumored, was authorized by Atlético Madrid, allowing the French forward to travel to the United States to finalize the agreement during a scheduled break.

Griezmann, 34, will sign a two-year contract with the Major League Soccer club through June 2028, with a club option for an additional year, according to sources familiar with the deal. He is expected to travel to the U.S. During the international break to complete the formalities.

The agreement marks the culmination of weeks of negotiation, initially aimed at bringing Griezmann to Orlando before the close of MLS’s primary transfer window this month. However, Griezmann opted to remain with Atlético to compete for the Copa del Rey and Champions League titles. He will continue to play for the Spanish club until the end of the current European season.

Atlético Madrid has agreed to release Griezmann on a free transfer, foregoing any potential transfer fee. The club, led by manager Diego Simeone, has repeatedly expressed support for Griezmann’s decision, recognizing his long tenure and significant contributions to the team.

Griezmann is Atlético’s all-time leading scorer with over 200 goals. While he has enjoyed success with Atlético, winning a Europa League, Supercopa, and UEFA Super Cup, a Copa del Rey title has eluded him. He was as well a Champions League runner-up in 2015-16.

The move to Orlando City aligns with Griezmann’s stated desire to play in MLS. He has frequently expressed an affinity for American sports and culture, often attending NBA games during his travels to the United States.

Orlando City, which previously featured Ballon d’Or winner Kaká as its captain during its inaugural MLS season in 2015, is undergoing a rebuild following the departure of coach Óscar Pareja earlier this season. The club currently sits in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, with one win in five games. Griezmann is expected to be a central figure in the team’s revitalization.

Griezmann retired from international duty with France in 2024, having earned 44 goals for Les Bleus and been a key member of the 2018 World Cup-winning team. He has not yet commented publicly on the impending move to Orlando.

Major League Soccer’s summer transfer window opens on July 13.