Olympiakos Summer Transfers 2022/23
Olympiakos Summer Transfers 2022/23
Aboubakar Kamara
Striker
27 years old from Mauritania
From Aris for £4.50m
The former Fulham forward was one of the first arrivals in Piraeus during the summer window after a solid season in Thessaloniki with Aris. Karmara made 14 goal contributions during the 2021/22 campaign as Aris finished 3rd.
The Mauritanian international's start at Olympiakos has been disrupted by injury, although Thrylos fans saw a glimpse of what he can offer to the team against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League qualifiers. With so many changes to the squad since his arrival, including Carlos Corberan as the manager, it will be interesting to see how Kamara will be deployed as he can play on the wing as well as at striker.
Philip Zinckernagel
Right Winger, Left Winger, Attacking Midfielder
27 Years old from Denmark
From Watford FC for £1.80m
The Danish midfielder joined the Greek champions from Watford after impressing on loan last season at Thrylos sibling club Nottingham Forest. Having played 50 games in all competitions, Zinckernagel impressed with seven goals and 10 assists to his name helping the former European Cup winners reach the Premier League via the playoffs.
Since his arrival the 27 year old has contributed fairly well to Olympiakos in European qualifying, scoring on his full debut against Maccabi Haifa in the and again with a thunderbolt against Slovan Bratislava. While he has made a decent impression early on and is able to play in all advanced midfield positions. Sadly, it looks as though the Danish midfielder's time in Piraeus has already come to an end, as he has been sent to Belgian side Standard Liege on loan.
Doron Leidner
Left-Back
20 years old from Israel
From Hapoel Tel Aviv for £1.80m
Seen as one of the best young full backs outside of Europe's top five leagues, the Israeli left back joined Olympiakos from Hapoel Tel Aviv. Leidner impressed last season in the Israeli Premier League, helping his side finish 5th and narrowly missing out on a place in the European qualifiers and reaching the semi final of the Israeli State Cup. The 20 year old impressed statistically as well, scoring once and assisting four times in 26 appearances.
Sadly for the promising full back, he is yet to make an appearance for Thrylos this season, with competition at left back with starter Oleg Reabciuk, return of Leonardo Koutris and the mega signing which I will be referring to later.
With the transfer window closing for Greece in just over a week's time, there has been talk of possible move on loan for Leidner which would be a shame as he is evidently talented. But with the prospect of going from second choice to fourth choice left back in a very competitive Olympiakos squad, time will tell what will happen to Leidner this campaign.
Gonzalo Ávila
Right Back
24 years old from Spain
From Huddersfield Town for £900,000
The Spanish right back joined the Greek champions from championship side Huddersfield Town to very much be a back up to the incoming Sime Vrsaljko. Avila actually played under current Olympiakos manager, and then Huddersfield coach, Carlos Corbernan as the terriers narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League, losing out to Nottingham Forest in the playoff final.
Pipa, as he is also known, actually did not play as many games as some would think, having missed the first half of the Championship season through a groyne strain, was in and out of the team before playing a slightly more prevent role in the latter stages of the season. The Spaniard made a total of 17 appearances in all competitions with two assists in just over one thousand minutes.
Avila has been a breath of fresh air on the right side of Olympiakos defence since he arrived in Piraeus. With the long term absence of Vrsaljko, the 24 year old has taken his opportunity and worked under Corberan in the first team, particularly during Thrylos Europa League campaign and played every minute and scored both penalty shootouts to reach the group stages. While there is still an expectation from supporters that Avila will eventually drop to the bench, he is currently making it hard for Corberan to drop him even once his Croatian compatriot is fully fit.
Sime Vrsaljko
Right-Back
30 years old from Croatia
From Atlético Madrid on a free transfer
The first big signing of the transfer window, the Croatian full back was seen as a bit of a coe for Olympiakos when he arrived on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid over the summer. Under Diego Simeone, Vrsaljko was part of an Atleti side which finished third place in La Liga after failing to defend the title as well as reaching the quarter finals of the Champions League where they eventually bowed out to Manchester City.
During the 2021/22 campaign, the 30 year old competed for the starting right back spot, first with Kieran Trippier where he was mostly a back up, before the England international left for Newcastle, and then with Marcos Llorente whom he shared a more even amount of appearances with. Overall Vrsaljko made 29 appearances in all competitions with a goal and two assists.
Unfortunately it has not been the easiest start for him with injuries constantly keeping him out. Just as it looked as though he would return to training a fresh injury would keep him out. When he has played his class is evident. In the short cameo the Olympiakos faithful saw, Vrsaljko was one of the blameless players in the shambolic exit of the Champions League to Maccabi Haifa having played both legs and made the position his own and showed leadership on the pitch.
If the now retired Croatian international can find his fitness, and despite Avila’s good form he is the definitive right back going forward for Olympiakos and they will certainly need his experience to both retain the title and hope for a run in Europe.
In-beom Hwang
Central Midfield, Attacking Midfielder
25 years old from South Korea
From Rubin Kazan on a free transfer
Thrylos first ever South Korean signing and the first of the two Hwangs, the midfielder joined Olympiakos from Ruben Kazan on a free transfer. Hwang had a rather strange season being one of the many players affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine which meant that teams from the league were expelled from all European competition until further notice.
Hwang spent the rest of the season on loan back in his native country with FC Seoul. Under new Fifa and UEFA legislation, foreign players and managers could have their contracts at Russian Clubs suspended which, hence how Olympiakos were able to acquire the services of the talented 25 year old on a free transfer. In all competitions last season Hwang scored two and assisted three.
The diminutive midfielder announced himself in style on his debut with a well worked goal in the Europa League qualifiers against Apollon Limassol and from that point he has been lauded for his hard work and both physical and technical ability despite his size. With Mady Camara now in Serie A with Roma, the Greek champions look as though they have already replaced him with a worthy successor.
Ui-jo Hwang
Striker
29 years old from South Korea
From Nottingham Forest on loan transfer
The second Hwang, and at Olympiakos party because of his South Korean compatriot, the striker arrived on loan from Nottingham Forest. At first it seemed as though Hwang was not keen on coming to Greece, but after supposedly speaking to his international team mate the 30 year old forward agreed to sign for Nottingham Forest from Bordeaux for a £5 million before coming to the Greek champions on loan.
Last season in Ligue 1, Hwang seemed to be a bright spot in what was a poor campaign for the French side as they suffered relegation to Ligue 2. Despite this, the forward scored 11 and got two assists in 33 appearances in all competition.
So far, Hwang has come off the bench in his first two games for Thrylos, assisting Pep Biel in a 3-1 win over Ionikos. Some have even tipped him to usurp El Arabi up front once he is fully fit, only time will tell if that comes to pass.
Konrad de la Fuente
Left Winger
21 years old from the United States
From Marseille on loan
Another anticipated player upon the announcement of his arrival, US international Konrad de la Fuente signed from French giants Marseille on loan with a 4 million Euro buyout option.
The Talented winger had a very solid start to last season in France mostly coming off the bench as an impact player before injuries at the start of 2022 kept him out for the rest of the season. Despite this he did contribute to Marseille finishing second in Ligue 1 and reaching the semi finals of the Europa Conference League. De la Fuente over the course of the 2021/22 season, scored once and assisted three times in 23 appearances in all competitions.
Since his arrival De La Fuente has largely featured as an impact substitute where his talent and natural one on one ability when taking on opposing players. The US winger is certainly an exciting prospect for Thrylos.
Panagiotis Retsos
Centre Back
24 years old from Greece
From Hellas Verona on loan
The prodigal son returns. Panos Retsos returned to Olympiakos after four years away on loan from parent club Hellas Verona. Retsos, as he had the last few years since leaving Piraeus, struggled with injuries and lack of game time throughout the 2021/22 season.
After hardly featuring for Bayer Leverkusen during the first half of the campaign he was let go by the Bundesliga side to Hellas Verona in Serie A. Just as he was starting to get more consistent game time at the Italian side, the Greek international suffered an abductor injury, which essentially kept him out until the end of the season, mostly just featuring on bench. Retsos made 13 appearances in all competitions.
Having only arrived back in Piraeus on the main European deadline day, Retsos made his maiden return as a substitute against Ionikos. Despite his injury problems plaguing him over the last few seasons, it is hoped by many that Retsos finds his feet at the very place where his career began.
Pep Biel
Attacking Midfield
25 years old from Spain
From FC Copenhagen for £5.40m
This was a real statement of intent from Olympiakos. Pep Biel joined Thrylos from FC Copenhagen on European deadline day to the excitement of many and for good reason. The Spaniard was a constant goal threat from attacking midfield for the Danish champions as setting up nervous goals for his teammates as well throughout the 2021/22 season.
He helped Copenhagen claim another Danish Super League crown while also impressing in Europe as they reached the Round of 16 in the Europa Conference League. Biel would finish the season on 18 goals and 15 assists in 47 games in all competitions averaging a goal contribution in nearly every other game for his former side. Even at the start of this current campaign, before his move to Olympiakos, the 25 year old already had amassed six goals and three assists in Denmark including a hat-trick against Brondby IF.
Biel has hit the ground running for the Greek champions, scoring and assisting on his debut against Ionikos. With his goal scoring and assist providing ability Thrylos seem to have landed themselves the creative player many have been crying out for.
Josh Bowler
Right Winger
23 years old from England
From Nottingham Forest on loan
The first English player to play for Olympiakos since Matt Derbyshire, Josh Bowler signed for Olympiakos on the European deadline day on loan from Nottingham Forest. The talented winger impressed in the Championship last season for Blackpool and was a consistent starter for them.
In what is always a tough Championship season the 21 year old was part of a Blackpool side that finished 16th. In 3 thousand minutes in all competitions, Bowler scored eight and assisted 3 times. Even at the start of the current season Bowler started strong with two goals in seven appearances before he left England for his new challenge in Piraeus.
Bowler is yet to feature for Olympiakos, but Carlos Corberan evidently rates him highly as he is part of Thrylos European squad, lets see how he does in Greece and his first opportunity on the European stage.
Marcelo
Left Back
34 years old from Brazil
From Real Madrid on a free transfer
The final signing Olympiakos have made at the time of writing and quite possibly the biggest in the club and Greek football history. Real Madrid and Brazilian Legend, Marcelo joined the club on a free transfer from Real Madrid and the move shocked many in the footballing world. After turning down the likes of Leicester City and an unnamed Saudi Arabian club who offered him an eight figure fee to join them, Marcelo rejected both in favour of a move to the Greek champions.
The veteran full back understandably was not a mainstay in the Real Madrid squad last season, having reached the twilight of his career at 34 years old and Ferland Mendy now the starting left back at Los Blancos. He still ended his Real Madrid career on a high by winning La liga and the Champions League double. Marcelo managed 18 appearances and two assists in all competitions.
Upon the Brazlian's arrival he was met by a huge fan fair as a 20,000 crowd in the Karaiskakis Stadium welcomed another legend to the club. It will be interesting to see how important a role Marcelo will play on the pitch, but off it he's already made a huge impact not only for Olympiakos, but also Greek football just by him arriving and the footballing world for one glorious evening were watching a kings welcome for him to Greece’s most successful club.
Follow @SteveKountourou
Comments
Post a Comment