LAFC supporters can take one last look at French icon Olivier Giroud wearing black and gold when the soon-to-be 39-year-old striker, one of the best players of his generation, suits up Sunday night at BMO Stadium.

Less than a year after arriving in the city, Giroud and LAFC confirmed on Friday that at the conclusion of Sunday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the team and the player will mutually part ways.

Conversations were ongoing for a couple of weeks with Giroud’s representatives about what made the most sense for the club and the player. The French national team’s all-time leading scorer will become a free agent, and reports indicate a return home to play in Ligue 1 with Lille, a Europa League participant next season.

The move means that the remainder of LAFC’s second-highest paid player’s salary, $3.675 million, good for 20th most in the league, is off the books ahead of what should be a significant summer transfer window, especially now that there is the strong possibility of two open Designated Player slots pending an option on short-term loanee Javairô Dilrosun.

“We obviously have some work to do to fill the shoes and there are ongoing plans to do so,” said LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington, who has nearly $10 million in Club World Cup prize money to factor into his decision-making.

Getting a call correct on a DP is make-or-break for most MLS teams. Giroud, who originally signed through the end of the 2025 season with a club option for 2026, joined LAFC from AC Milan, where he added to more than 700 career appearances and 300 goals at the top levels of European soccer in Italy, England, and France.

At LAFC, however, he struggled to contribute at that legendary rate, finding three assists (over a four-game stretch) and going goal-less in 14 appearances (10 starts) during his first half-year against MLS competition.

When he did score last year it occurred in big matches. Giroud’s debut goal in his fourth appearance and first start leveled the Leagues Cup final at Columbus before LAFC fell late, 3-1. He was helpful in the U.S. Open Cup final, scoring first before a dramatic late burst sealed the 3-1 result for LAFC against Sporting Kansas City.

By the time his scoreless league drought ended on April 19 of this year in Portland, it stood at 19 in a row. After the next game, a 2-2 draw at home against St. Louis on a night when LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo served a one-match suspension for a red card against the Timbers, assistant coach Ante Razov described Giroud as playing at an “advanced state.”

That turned out to be Giroud’s last start for eight straight matches until the disappointing 1-0 loss to Esperance de Tunisie in the Club World Cup group stage last week. Through five games in the month of May, he played a total of 27 minutes, though he bagged a second MLS goal in front of the Francophone fans at Montreal’s Stade Saputo.

“As a competitor I always want to be on the pitch to help the team to win games,” he said following that game. “Tonight I was lucky to get that opportunity. It was not maybe the fact in the previous games, even more because I played maybe 13 minutes in the last five games with this one tonight. It’s true I need to be patient, still work in training, and whenever Steve calls me onto the pitch I try to do my best. I want to be part of the team more often and more game time and when I’m on the pitch it’s where I’m the happiest, so hopefully I have more game time to come, yeah.”

Giroud scored in consecutive MLS matches for the first time on June 8, giving him five goals in all competitions prior to his 43rd and final appearance for LAFC.

Despite the lack of production on the field, Thorrington credited Giroud as an “exemplary professional,” a person with humility and a mentality to win that made the club better while he lived in L.A.

“I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career,” said Giroud, who along with LAFC teammate Hugo Lloris, Giroud helped France win the 2018 World Cup. “I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in L.A. for me and my family.”