Orlando City in Advanced Talks to Sign Antoine Griezmann as MLS Eyes Star Power

Major League Soccer is poised for a major coup, with Orlando City in advanced negotiations to sign 34-year-old French star Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid. The move would see Griezmann join as a designated player, injecting high-profile talent into the league just as it gears up for increased global attention with the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

The timing aligns with The Athletic's annual MLS executive survey, where league insiders expressed enthusiasm for attracting show-stoppers like Griezmann. Executives anonymously praised the potential for big names to elevate the competition, with one chief soccer officer lamenting missed opportunities to capitalize on World Cup momentum by not shifting to an autumn-spring schedule sooner—the change is set for 2027. The survey highlighted strong support for stars, noting that many franchises would eagerly pursue even aging icons like Cristiano Ronaldo. Griezmann's arrival could signal MLS's growing ambition to blend star power with competitive depth.