Olivier Giroud signs one-year Lille extension at age 39

Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has signed a one-year contract extension with Lille, keeping him at the Ligue 1 club until at least next summer despite turning 40 in September. The 39-year-old joined Lille last season from LAFC and contributed four goals in the Europa League as the club finished third and secured Champions League qualification.

Giroud’s leadership and goals were pivotal in Lille’s European run, with his contract now running through 2025. “I identify with Lille’s vision, a club with values I share, one that works hard and stands out from the rest through its approach and results,” he said in a statement.

Lille coach Bruno Genesio, who regularly praised Giroud’s influence, has since been replaced by Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti. “I don’t know Davide Ancelotti personally, but the fact that he’s a young coach is great,” Giroud said. “He’s a coach with fresh ideas. I’m convinced he has a lot to offer the club, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Giroud’s Arsenal tenure saw him score 105 goals and provide 38 assists in 253 appearances across all competitions. Signed from Montpellier in 2012 for around £12m, he won three FA Cups and three Community Shields, with his scorpion kick against Crystal Palace in 2017 earning the FIFA Puskas Award.

After leaving Arsenal in January 2018, Giroud moved to Chelsea for about £15m, scoring 39 goals and 14 assists in 119 appearances. He won the Champions League in 2020-21, finishing as Chelsea’s top scorer in that campaign with six goals, including all four in a 4-0 group-stage win at Sevilla.

Giroud spent three seasons at Milan, winning Serie A in 2021-22, before joining LAFC in Major League Soccer in 2021. He returned to Europe with Lille in 2025, describing the club as “most certainly” the final stop of his career. His extension means that career will continue into another season.

Giroud retired from international football as France’s all-time leading goalscorer with 57 goals in 137 games. His record could soon be overtaken by Kylian Mbappe, who has 56 goals and had five shots off target against Northern Ireland on Monday night.

Across Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea, Milan, LAFC and Lille, Giroud has scored over 300 club goals in more than 800 appearances. For Arsenal supporters, he remains an undervalued player, a £12m signing who delivered six seasons of goals, trophies and moments of quality.

He will retire with league titles from two European countries, five cups, a Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Nations League and a World Cup.