Orlando City sporting director Ricardo Moreira said before the 2026 MLS season that the team was working to sign a designated player before the close of the league’s primary transfer window March 26 or after this summer’s World Cup.On Tuesday, that plan came to fruition when the Lions announced the signing of 2018 FIFA World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann to a designated player deal through the 2027-28 season, with an option for 2028-29.“Bringing Antoine to Orlando is a landmark moment not only for our club, but for our city, our supporters and for Major League Soccer,” Orlando City owner and chairman, Mark Wilf said in a statement. “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. 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 City said Griezmann will join the team when Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window opens on July 13, meaning the French attacker will remain with Spanish club Atletico de Madrid through its current season. “Antoine is a complete footballer—creative, intelligent, clinical—and he is a proven winner on the biggest stages of the game,” Orlando City general manager and sporting director, Ricardo Moreira said. “Beyond his talent, he brings leadership, a relentless drive and a championship mentality that will elevate everyone around him. This is a statement signing for our club and ownership group, and we are thrilled to welcome Antoine and his family to Orlando.”Griezmann, 35, comes to MLS after helping France win the World Cup in 2018. He has scored 298 goals in 792 appearances for Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad.“I am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,” said Griezmann. “From my first conversations with the club, I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me. I look forward to making Orlando my new home, meeting the supporters, feeling the energy at Inter&Co Stadium, and giving everything I have to help the team achieve great things.”The impact There is no doubt the signing of Griezmann, a global soccer icon, has the potential to bring benefits on and off the field.Whether that happens in the short term remains to be seen. He has not officially arrived yet.It remains unclear which of the team’s three current designated players — Martin Ojeda, Braian Ojeda or Marco Pasalic — will have his salary bought down using targeted allocation money.A team spokesperson told WESH 2 that decision will most likely be made before Griezmann arrives this summer.There is also the question of how Griezmann will fit into this Orlando City team. The Lions are off to their worst start since joining MLS in 2015 and moved on from their most successful coach, Oscar Pareja, after a horrid run of games dating to last year.Will Martin Perelman still be the interim coach when Griezmann arrives, or will the team hire a full-time coach from outside the club to integrate the Frenchman into the team?Moreira said after Pareja’s exit earlier this month that the team was heading in a new direction. Griezmann’s signing comes at the cusp of that shift.Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Orlando City sporting director Ricardo Moreira said before the 2026 MLS season that the team was working to sign a designated player before the close of the league’s primary transfer window March 26 or after this summer’s World Cup.

On Tuesday, that plan came to fruition when the Lions announced the signing of 2018 FIFA World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann to a designated player deal through the 2027-28 season, with an option for 2028-29.

“Bringing Antoine to Orlando is a landmark moment not only for our club, but for our city, our supporters and for Major League Soccer,” Orlando City owner and chairman, Mark Wilf said in a statement. “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. 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 City said Griezmann will join the team when Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window opens on July 13, meaning the French attacker will remain with Spanish club Atletico de Madrid through its current season.

French attacker Antoine Griezmann signing with Orlando City from Spanish club Atletico de Madrid.

Photo Courtesy Orlando City SC

French attacker Antoine Griezmann signing with Orlando City from Spanish club Atletico de Madrid.

“Antoine is a complete footballer—creative, intelligent, clinical—and he is a proven winner on the biggest stages of the game,” Orlando City general manager and sporting director, Ricardo Moreira said. “Beyond his talent, he brings leadership, a relentless drive and a championship mentality that will elevate everyone around him. This is a statement signing for our club and ownership group, and we are thrilled to welcome Antoine and his family to Orlando.”

Griezmann, 35, comes to MLS after helping France win the World Cup in 2018. He has scored 298 goals in 792 appearances for Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad.

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.

A first look at Antoine Griezmann in purple.

The Frenchman will officially join #OrlandoCity this summer following his time with Atletico de Madrid.

Griezmann signed with the Lions as a DP through the 2027-28 season with an option year for 28/29. pic.twitter.com/wjZnoFtUmw

— Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) March 24, 2026

“I am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,” said Griezmann. “From my first conversations with the club, I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me. I look forward to making Orlando my new home, meeting the supporters, feeling the energy at Inter&Co Stadium, and giving everything I have to help the team achieve great things.”

The impact

There is no doubt the signing of Griezmann, a global soccer icon, has the potential to bring benefits on and off the field.

Whether that happens in the short term remains to be seen. He has not officially arrived yet.

It remains unclear which of the team’s three current designated players — Martin Ojeda, Braian Ojeda or Marco Pasalic — will have his salary bought down using targeted allocation money.

A team spokesperson told WESH 2 that decision will most likely be made before Griezmann arrives this summer.

There is also the question of how Griezmann will fit into this Orlando City team. The Lions are off to their worst start since joining MLS in 2015 and moved on from their most successful coach, Oscar Pareja, after a horrid run of games dating to last year.

Will Martin Perelman still be the interim coach when Griezmann arrives, or will the team hire a full-time coach from outside the club to integrate the Frenchman into the team?

Moreira said after Pareja’s exit earlier this month that the team was heading in a new direction. Griezmann’s signing comes at the cusp of that shift.

Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage over on X and Instagram.