Antoine Griezmann confirms summer move to Orlando City
Antoine Griezmann will join Major League Soccer's Orlando City when his Atletico Madrid contract expires this summer, bringing an end to his storied second spell at the Spanish club. The 35-year-old forward's impending departure was confirmed last month, with his final matches for Diego Simeone's side now carrying a poignant weight as they compete on three fronts.
Ahead of Atletico's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday, manager Diego Simeone paid an emotional and public tribute to the French international. Speaking to the media, as reported by MD, Simeone expressed profound gratitude for Griezmann's contribution. "Thank you for all your work, all your humility. You are an admirable person for today’s boys, and for a society that needs people like you," the Argentine said. He highlighted Griezmann's professional conduct and the unique balance of their relationship, concluding, "I consider you a player and then a friend."
The move to Orlando City marks a new chapter for Griezmann after a career spent at the pinnacle of European football. He initially joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014, becoming the club's talisman and winning the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup before a high-profile, and ultimately ill-fated, transfer to Barcelona in 2019. He returned to Madrid on loan in 2021, with the move made permanent, and has since reclaimed his status as a vital figure, helping the team secure another Europa League title. His legacy at the Metropolitano is secure, having scored over 170 goals for the club across his two stints.
For Atletico, Griezmann's exit signals the end of an era and the need to begin a long-term transition plan for their attack. The club has already been linked with several younger forwards across Europe. For Orlando City, the acquisition represents a major statement of intent, bringing a World Cup winner and former Ballon d'Or finalist to DRV PNK Stadium to spearhead their ambitions in MLS and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The immediate focus, however, remains on a potentially glorious farewell. Simeone explicitly linked Griezmann's departure to the team's ongoing objectives, stating, "There will be eight league games, one Copa del Rey game and God willing, we are going to play five more games in the Champions League." Atletico face Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final later this month and are serious contenders in Europe, offering Griezmann the chance to cap his tenure with major silverware. His final weeks in Madrid will be charged with emotion, but as Simeone reminded him with characteristic grit, the professional demands remain unchanged: "you know that if you don’t run tomorrow you go out."
