LAFC head coach Steven Cherundolo said Olivier Giroud will be available to play for the MLS team for the first time on Tuesday night in their Leagues Cup match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Although LAFC signed Giroud on a free transfer in late April, he did not officially join the team until August 1 after playing in the European Championship with France.
“Olivier will be available tomorrow,” Cherundolo said at the pre-match press conference.
Giroud will make his Leagues Cup debut after a successful 2023-24 season with AC Milan, where he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 35 regular-season games. His former France teammate Hugo Lloris expects the forward to make an immediate impact and boost the team's development.
“He's a great player and can only be a good addition for LAFC. Obviously, it's easier for me to talk because I know him so well, but he's going to bring his personality, leadership and experience,” Lloris said at the MLS All-Star Game.
“I still believe that he's coming here to keep winning, that's how he is. He's going to help this young team to keep developing. For me personally, it's going to be a very good experience at this point in our careers. We didn't expect to share this last experience together.
“But I think in his mind he always wanted to come to MLS one day or another. I think it was the right time for him to come.”
Giroud comes to the United States after 18 years in the top professional leagues of Ligue 1, the Premier League and Serie A, which included the last four seasons with AC Milan. He has 285 goals in 716 appearances for his club.
The former Arsenal striker revealed at his introductory press conference on August 2 that he was approached by the LA Galaxy in 2021. However, he turned down the MLS side at the time to join Milan before eventually signing for LAFC.
“It's a bit funny… I signed for AC Milan [in 2021]”Before that, I met someone from LA Galaxy,” Giroud said at his presentation at LAFC two weeks ago. “I told them it wasn't the right time for me to leave Europe.
“Joining LAFC is destiny for me, God wanted me to be there with you.”
Now, Giroud and LAFC will try to beat the Earthquakes in the round of 16 clash to advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament.
