Antoine Griezmann was officially introduced as an Orlando City player Tuesday, capping a monthslong recruitment that brought the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion to Major League Soccer.Standing on a stage at Full Sail University, Griezmann held up an Orlando City jersey bearing his name before a select crowd of fans and team officials. Team owner Mark Wilf and sporting director and general manager Ricardo Moreira stood beside him, smiling as they welcomed the club’s newest Designated Player.The unveiling marked the culmination of Orlando City’s pursuit of Griezmann, a move club officials believe will strengthen the team on the field while elevating its profile across MLS.”Since I was 18 years old, my dream was to come to Major League Soccer,” Griezmann said in Spanish to reporters and the hundreds of fans in attendance. “It was important for me to arrive physically and mentally well, and that’s why I made the move. As I said, I connected well with Ricardo and Mark. I came to visit the city, and we loved it. The kids loved it as well. It’s incredible how we’ve been received by everyone, and I hope I can return that love to everyone.”Griezmann spent much of his career with Atlético Madrid and helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Griezmann, 35, officially signed with the Lions in March to a Designated Player contract through the 2027-28 season with a club option for 2028-29.WESH reported shortly after Griezmann’s signing that Moreira visited the player’s home in Madrid in 2025 to pitch Orlando City.”Ricardo’s visit to Madrid — eight or nine hours of traveling — just knowing that for me was incredible,” Griezmann said of Moreira’s visit. “It was a nice moment where I invited him only to coffee and water. A couple of hours went by, and it went incredibly well. We talked for hours, and by the end of it I knew everything about the team, the club and its culture.”Griezmann said another key moment in his decision was a video call with Wilf.”He was in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, and he was very kind. I liked that, and from there I knew Orlando was the right place,” Griezmann said.”When I heard that, my first emotion was excitement,” Wilf said. “To have a player, a world-class superstar like Antoine, come here was incredible. At the same time, I wasn’t really surprised. Ricardo and our entire soccer operations staff know what we want. We want to build a championship-caliber, first-class club. With this signing, we’re where we need to be, and we’re going to keep pushing.”Moreira said Orlando City’s profile among players has grown since Griezmann signed.”Since we got Antoine, we’ve seen the phone ring a little more than usual because players want to join and play here,” Moreira said. “They know we’re now part of the biggest stages of football by having someone like Griezmann, so everybody wants to play alongside him.”Griezmann joins the Lions at an interesting time.Orlando City sits 12th in the Eastern Conference standings following a disappointing first half of the season that included the departure of longtime head coach Oscar Pareja after six seasons.The Lions have conceded a league-high 44 goals in 15 matches so far during the 2026 MLS regular season. Turning the season around will be a shared responsibility, Moreira said, though much of that responsibility will naturally fall on Griezmann as the club’s newest Designated Player.”We’re in a position we’re not used to, and we don’t like where we are in the standings,” Moreira said. “We still believe in making the playoffs. There’s still a lot to play for. We’re in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, and hopefully we’ll beat our next opponent, host the final again and make the playoffs.”Griezmann, meanwhile, embraced the expectations that come with being a Designated Player.”It’s an honor for me,” Griezmann said. “Ricardo and Mark made a big effort to bring me here, so it’s an honor to carry that responsibility. I’ve always believed football is a game, and I’ll give 1,000% for this team and these colors. With the ball at my feet, everything comes naturally, so there’s no pressure to be a Designated Player.”

WINTER PARK, Fla. —

Antoine Griezmann was officially introduced as an Orlando City player Tuesday, capping a monthslong recruitment that brought the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion to Major League Soccer.

Standing on a stage at Full Sail University, Griezmann held up an Orlando City jersey bearing his name before a select crowd of fans and team officials. Team owner Mark Wilf and sporting director and general manager Ricardo Moreira stood beside him, smiling as they welcomed the club’s newest Designated Player.

The unveiling marked the culmination of Orlando City’s pursuit of Griezmann, a move club officials believe will strengthen the team on the field while elevating its profile across MLS.

“Since I was 18 years old, my dream was to come to Major League Soccer,” Griezmann said in Spanish to reporters and the hundreds of fans in attendance. “It was important for me to arrive physically and mentally well, and that’s why I made the move. As I said, I connected well with Ricardo and Mark. I came to visit the city, and we loved it. The kids loved it as well. It’s incredible how we’ve been received by everyone, and I hope I can return that love to everyone.”

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Antoine Griezmann was officially introduced as an #OrlandoCity player recently during a welcome event.

The French striker will be with the Lions through the 2027-28 season with an option year for the following season. pic.twitter.com/tYYNtyEEcu

— Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) July 8, 2026

Griezmann spent much of his career with Atlético Madrid and helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Griezmann, 35, officially signed with the Lions in March to a Designated Player contract through the 2027-28 season with a club option for 2028-29.

WESH reported shortly after Griezmann’s signing that Moreira visited the player’s home in Madrid in 2025 to pitch Orlando City.

“Ricardo’s visit to Madrid — eight or nine hours of traveling — just knowing that for me was incredible,” Griezmann said of Moreira’s visit. “It was a nice moment where I invited him only to coffee and water. A couple of hours went by, and it went incredibly well. We talked for hours, and by the end of it I knew everything about the team, the club and its culture.”

Griezmann said another key moment in his decision was a video call with Wilf.

“He was in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, and he was very kind. I liked that, and from there I knew Orlando was the right place,” Griezmann said.

“When I heard that, my first emotion was excitement,” Wilf said. “To have a player, a world-class superstar like Antoine, come here was incredible. At the same time, I wasn’t really surprised. Ricardo and our entire soccer operations staff know what we want. We want to build a championship-caliber, first-class club. With this signing, we’re where we need to be, and we’re going to keep pushing.”

Moreira said Orlando City’s profile among players has grown since Griezmann signed.

“Since we got Antoine, we’ve seen the phone ring a little more than usual because players want to join and play here,” Moreira said. “They know we’re now part of the biggest stages of football by having someone like Griezmann, so everybody wants to play alongside him.”

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Griezmann joins the Lions at an interesting time.

Orlando City sits 12th in the Eastern Conference standings following a disappointing first half of the season that included the departure of longtime head coach Oscar Pareja after six seasons.

The Lions have conceded a league-high 44 goals in 15 matches so far during the 2026 MLS regular season.

Turning the season around will be a shared responsibility, Moreira said, though much of that responsibility will naturally fall on Griezmann as the club’s newest Designated Player.

“We’re in a position we’re not used to, and we don’t like where we are in the standings,” Moreira said. “We still believe in making the playoffs. There’s still a lot to play for. We’re in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, and hopefully we’ll beat our next opponent, host the final again and make the playoffs.”

Griezmann, meanwhile, embraced the expectations that come with being a Designated Player.

“It’s an honor for me,” Griezmann said. “Ricardo and Mark made a big effort to bring me here, so it’s an honor to carry that responsibility. I’ve always believed football is a game, and I’ll give 1,000% for this team and these colors. With the ball at my feet, everything comes naturally, so there’s no pressure to be a Designated Player.”