Olivier Giroud Bio
Olivier Jonathan Giroud, born on 30 September 1986 in Chambéry, France, is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Lille. Standing at 193 centimeters tall, Giroud has built a reputation as a target man with sharp finishing, aerial strength, and longevity at the top level of the sport. He is widely recognized as the all-time top goalscorer for the France national team.
Across more than two decades in professional football, Giroud has played for Grenoble, Tours, Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, Los Angeles FC, and Lille, lifting major trophies at home and abroad. He is also known for his goal-scoring instincts, calm demeanor in front of the net, and his high-profile media partnerships with Puma and Hugo Boss.
Early Life and Background
Olivier Jonathan Giroud was born on 30 September 1986 in Chambéry, a city in the Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. Growing up in a French household, he developed an early interest in football and joined the youth setup of Grenoble Foot 38, the local club that would shape his formative years as a player.
Giroud spent five years developing inside Grenoble’s youth academy, working through the ranks as he grew physically and technically. He later reflected that signing his first professional contract was a turning point, saying that the trust shown by the club helped him recognize his own abilities. Standing out for his height and finishing, he became a key figure in the club’s reserve team during the 2005–06 season.
Path to Soccer
Giroud’s climb up the football pyramid began in earnest when he was promoted to Grenoble’s senior team in 2006 by manager Thierry Goudet. He made his professional debut on 27 March 2006 as a late substitute in a Ligue 2 draw with Gueugnon, and scored his first professional goal in February 2007, netting a stoppage-time winner against Le Havre.
Seeking regular first-team football, Giroud went on loan to Istres in the Championnat National for the 2007–08 season, where he continued his development as a striker under manager Frédéric Arpinon. In May 2008, he agreed to a three-year deal with Ligue 2 club Tours, drawn by sporting director Max Marty and the influence of manager Daniel Sanchez, a former striker whose guidance helped him sharpen his movement in the penalty area.
Olivier Giroud Career
Early Career (2005–2010)
After breaking into the Grenoble senior squad and spending a productive loan at Istres, Giroud joined Tours in 2008 and quickly established himself as the team’s leading striker. During the 2009–10 season, he scored four goals in a single match against Arles-Avignon and finished the campaign with 21 league goals, earning the Ligue 2 top scorer award and the UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year honor.
In January 2010, Ligue 1 side Montpellier signed Giroud for a reported €2 million, loaning him back to Tours until the end of that season. The move was the springboard for his rise to the top flight, as Montpellier’s coaching staff and training environment were viewed as ideal for his continued development.
Montpellier Breakthrough (2010–2012)
Giroud joined Montpellier in the summer of 2010 and made an immediate impact in Ligue 1. He combined physical presence in the box with intelligent link-up play, becoming the focal point of the team’s attack as Montpellier mounted a surprise title challenge.
In the 2011–12 season, Giroud finished as Ligue 1’s top scorer with 21 goals, powering Montpellier to their first Ligue 1 championship in the club’s history. His aerial ability, hold-up play, and consistency in front of goal alerted several of Europe’s biggest clubs, setting the stage for a high-profile Premier League move.
Arsenal Era (2012–2018)
Arsenal signed Giroud in June 2012 for a fee believed to be around £9.6 million, handing him the number 12 shirt. He made his debut as a substitute against Sunderland on 18 August 2012 and opened his Premier League account with a goal against West Ham United in October of that year, quickly winning over the Arsenal supporters.
At Arsenal, Giroud helped end the club’s nine-year wait for a trophy by scoring in three consecutive FA Cup final victories in 2014, 2015, and 2017. He also produced one of the most memorable goals in Arsenal history with his backheeled scorpion kick against Crystal Palace on 1 January 2017, a strike that earned him the FIFA Puskás Award for goal of the year. By the time he departed, he had surpassed 100 goals for the club and ranked among Arsenal’s all-time leading scorers.
Chelsea Era (2018–2021)
In January 2018, Giroud moved across London to Chelsea for a fee of £18 million, signing an 18-month contract. He played a central role in Chelsea’s Europa League triumph in 2019, finishing as the competition’s top scorer with 11 goals, including a strike in the final against his former club Arsenal.
Giroud continued to deliver important goals at Stamford Bridge, scoring a hat-trick against Dynamo Kyiv in March 2019 and becoming the oldest player in Champions League history to score a hat-trick with four goals against Sevilla in December 2020. He was an unused substitute when Chelsea won the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City, completing his collection of major club honors in English football.
AC Milan Era (2021–2024)
AC Milan signed Giroud on a permanent two-year deal in July 2021, bringing his experience to a young Italian squad aiming to return to the top of Serie A. He opened his account with a brace against Cagliari and went on to score crucial goals throughout the campaign, including a brace in the Derby della Madonnina against Inter.
On 22 May 2022, Giroud scored twice in a 3–0 win over Sassuolo that clinched Milan’s first Serie A title in eleven years. He remained a key figure in his subsequent seasons at the club, reaching 49 goals in total before announcing in May 2024 that he would leave the Rossoneri at the end of the season.
Los Angeles FC Era (2024–2025)
Following his departure from AC Milan, Giroud embarked on a one-year spell in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC. The move gave him a fresh competitive environment in the United States and allowed him to extend his career into his late thirties while continuing to perform at a high level.
After concluding his time in MLS, Giroud returned to French football on 1 July 2025, signing a one-year contract with Ligue 1 side Lille and taking the number 9 shirt previously worn by Jonathan David. He made his official Lille debut on 17 August 2025, opening the scoring in a 3–3 Ligue 1 draw with Brest and becoming Lille’s oldest-ever goalscorer in the process.
Notable Events and Milestones
Giroud’s career is studded with signature moments, including his scorpion kick against Crystal Palace that won the Puskás Award, his Europa League final goal against Arsenal, and his match-winning brace that sealed the Serie A title for AC Milan. He also reached his 300th senior career goal during his time at Milan and surpassed 100 appearances for both Arsenal and Chelsea.
Olivier Giroud Family
Personal Life
Olivier Giroud is married to Jennifer, his long-time partner. The couple has built their family life alongside his football career, with Giroud often speaking about the role his wife has played in supporting his moves across clubs and countries.
Off the pitch, Giroud has cultivated a public image as a stylish and media-savvy athlete. Since 2009 he has been sponsored by Puma, appearing alongside French teammate Antoine Griezmann in a campaign released in 2016, and in 2014 he became the face of Hugo Boss’s Boss Bottled men’s fragrance.
2025 Season Performance
Giroud’s 2025 campaign began with his return to France and Ligue 1, signing for Lille on a one-year deal with an option for an additional season. The move was framed by both player and club as a return home, with Giroud highlighting Lille’s reputation, its Europa League qualification, and the chance to mentor a young squad as key reasons for his decision.
He made an immediate impact, debuting in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund before opening his competitive Lille account against Brest in August 2025. At 38 years old, his early contributions have been measured as much in leadership and experience as in goals, with the club leaning on him as a bridge between the coaching staff and a talented group of younger players.
Looking ahead across the 2025–26 season, Giroud is expected to combine a rotational striking role with a senior voice in the dressing room as Lille balance Ligue 1 duties with a Europa League campaign. His blend of physical presence, tactical intelligence, and big-game temperament continues to make him a reliable contributor at the highest level.