{"id":205084,"date":"2026-03-25T06:54:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T06:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/205084\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T06:54:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T06:54:26","slug":"orlando-city-signs-antoine-griezmann-to-designated-player-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/205084\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando City signs Antoine Griezmann to Designated Player deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOrlando 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\u2019s primary transfer window March 26 or after this summer\u2019s 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.\u201cBringing Antoine to Orlando is a landmark moment not only for our club, but for our city, our supporters and for Major League Soccer,\u201d Orlando City owner and chairman, Mark Wilf said in a statement. \u201cHe 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.\u201dOrlando 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. \u201cAntoine is a complete footballer\u2014creative, intelligent, clinical\u2014and he is a proven winner on the biggest stages of the game,\u201d Orlando City general manager and sporting director, Ricardo Moreira said. \u201cBeyond 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.\u201dGriezmann, 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.\u201cI am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,\u201d said Griezmann. \u201cFrom 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.\u201dThe 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\u2019s three current designated players \u2014 Martin Ojeda, Braian Ojeda or Marco Pasalic \u2014 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\u2019s exit earlier this month that the team was heading in a new direction. Griezmann\u2019s 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.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Orlando City sporting director Ricardo Moreira said before the 2026 MLS season<\/a> that the team was working to sign a designated player before the close of the league\u2019s primary transfer window March 26 or after this summer\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing Antoine to Orlando is a landmark moment not only for our club, but for our city, our supporters and for Major League Soccer,\u201d Orlando City owner and chairman, Mark Wilf said in a statement. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"French<\/p>\n

\n\t\tPhoto Courtesy Orlando City SC\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrench attacker Antoine Griezmann signing with Orlando City from Spanish club Atletico de Madrid.<\/p>\n

\u201cAntoine is a complete footballer\u2014creative, intelligent, clinical\u2014and he is a proven winner on the biggest stages of the game,\u201d Orlando City general manager and sporting director, Ricardo Moreira said. \u201cBeyond 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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A first look at Antoine Griezmann in purple. <\/p>\n

The Frenchman will officially join #OrlandoCity<\/a> this summer following his time with Atletico de Madrid. <\/p>\n

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

\u2014 Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) March 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,\u201d said Griezmann. \u201cFrom 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The impact <\/p>\n

There is no doubt the signing of Griezmann, a global soccer icon, has the potential to bring benefits on and off the field.<\/p>\n

Whether that happens in the short term remains to be seen. He has not officially arrived yet.<\/p>\n

It remains unclear which of the team\u2019s three current designated players \u2014 Martin Ojeda, Braian Ojeda or Marco Pasalic \u2014 will have his salary bought down using targeted allocation money.<\/p>\n

A team spokesperson told WESH 2 that decision will most likely be made before Griezmann arrives this summer.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

Moreira said after Pareja\u2019s exit earlier this month that the team was heading in a new direction. Griezmann\u2019s signing comes at the cusp of that shift.<\/p>\n

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 <\/a>and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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