Chelsea confirm Olivier Giroud exit as striker follows Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan

Olivier Giroud has completed his transfer from Chelsea to AC Milan as the veteran striker leaves west London.

football.london understands the Blues have secured a £2million fee with significant add-ons included for the Frenchman, who joined the club back in 2018 from London rivals Arsenal.

Giroud stayed with Chelsea for three-and-a-half years but has now followed Fikayo Tomori in swapping Stamford Bridge for San Siro this summer.

The Blues triggered a one-year option in Giroud’s contract in April to keep some value on the player rather than lose him for free in the transfer window with a departure seemingly on the cards.

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“To all the Blues, to my teammates, to all my coaches, to the whole club, a huge thank you for these special moments,” Giroud posted on his social media channels.

“I’m starting a new journey with a light and happy heart. Our victories in Fa Cup, Europa League, and Champions League have been magnificent. Love Oli G.”

Giroud became a peripheral figure under Thomas Tuchel but has been a popular player in west London since moving to the club from Arsenal in January 2018, playing a key role in Chelsea’s Europa League success in 2019.

The frontman has netted 39 goals in 119 appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge, winning three major trophies, including the Champions League this season as Chelsea secured European glory for a second time.

France head coach Didier Deschamps repeatedly encouraged Giroud to leave Chelsea due to a lack of game time but the striker still found himself named in the 2018 World Cup-winning squad for Les Bleus and EURO 2020 squads.

Questions over Giroud’s future at Chelsea were never far away but he played key roles under three managers in Maurizio Sarri, Frank Lampard and, to a lesser extent Tuchel though the striker netted a sensational winner against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League this season.

With the 2023 World Cup in Qatar on the horizon, Giroud was targeting more meaningful minutes to earn selection for Deschamps squad and he is likely to get that at the San Siro in what is a very experienced frontline alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/breaking-olivier-giroud-chelsea-milan-21031807