Olympiakos: 2022/23 January Transfer Window Fire Sale
Olympiakos: 2022/23 January Transfer Window Fire Sale
Pipa Avila
Right-Back
25 Years Old
€600k to Ludogorets
Having arrived last summer, Gonzalo Avila, or Pipa, was seen as the backup for the marquee signing Sime Vrsaljko. However, the Spaniard found himself as the starting right back with his Croatian counterpart's consistent injury problems.
Despite a solid start to life in Piraeus, Avila was the culprit for a foul in the dying moments of the derby against Panathinaikos. This ultimately led to a penalty and Olympiakos dropping points in a game they were seconds from winning.
Although he continued to be a regular starter until the world cup break, Michel deemed Avila surplus to requirements and he was sold towards the end of the January transfer window to Bulgarian side Ludogorets.
Tomas Vaclik
Goalkeeper
33 Years Old
Free Transfer to Huddersfield Town
After coming in last season and having a very solid 2021/22 campaign Tomas Vaclik looked as though he would be the definitive starting goalkeeper for at least another season when 2022/23 rolled around.
But then the Czech international suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for over three months.
Once he returned to full training he found his starting place usurped by Alexandros Paschalakis and was even behind the talented Kostas Tzolakis. With only six months left on his deal in Piraeus Olympiakos allowed Vaclik to leave on a free transfer to Championship Huddersfield Town
Kenny Lala
Right-Back
31 Years Old
Free Transfer Stade Brestois
The failed heir to Omar Elabdelloui, Kenny Lala since arriving in Piraeus in January 2021 showed flashes of what he was capable of bringing to Olympiakos with his explosive pace, crossing, set piece ability and defending. But sadly this was never seen constantly enough.
Lala failed to impress Pedro Martins, Carlos Corberan and Michel, despite being given a chance to do so. After failing to agree to let the French fullback leave in the summer, Olympiakos finally cut their loss towards the end of 2022 when they agreed to cancel the rest of Lala’s contract. The 31-year-old has since joined Stade Brestois back in his native France.
Leonardo Koutris
Left-Back
27 Years Old
Free Transfer Pogon Szczecin
From being a regular starter back in 2017/18 to losing his place to Kostas Tsmikas, loan moves, long-term injuries, and promises for more first-team action at Thrylos before finally leaving the club in January. Leonardo Koutris after a decent spell on loan with 2. Bundesliga Fortuna Dusseldorf, returned to Olympiakos last summer with the hope of reestablishing himself as part of the thrylos first time.
This never transpired however with the arrival of Marcelo and Oleg Reabciuk as the main left-back, Kouris was only able to feature on a handful of appearances for Olympiakos during the first half of the season. He eventually left the club as the January transfer window opened, signing for Polish side Pogon Szczecin.
Giannis Masouras
Right Back / Right Midfield
26 Years Old
Free Transfer Miedź Legnica
A talented right back who was criticised for off-the-field antics, Giannis Masouras was finally allowed to leave Olympiakos permanently in January to Polish side Miedz Legnica. After arriving from AEL Larissa in the summer of 2018, Masouras was sent on numerous loans to Greece, Holland and Poland in the last few seasons.
Despite being very highly rated and having the ability to play anywhere on the right side of the field, the now 26-year-old's professionalism has always been called into question and so Thrylos without giving him a real chance in the first place, decided to let him leave.
Andreas Bouchalakis
Central Midfielder
29 Years Old
Loan to Konyaspor
Olympiakos captain Andreas Bouchalakis was a bit more of a surprise exit from the Greek champions in the winter window. Despite hardly featuring this season it was thought that the 29-year-old midfielder would at least be kept by the club as the club captain and an off-the-pitch leader.
This however was not the case it seems and so the Greek international was allowed to leave on the deadline day for Turkish side Konyaspor on loan for the rest of the season.
Aguibou Camara
Attacking Midfielder
21 Years Old
Loan to Atromitos
A very talented attacking player but one that suffered partly from the bloated Olympiakos squad this season. The 21-year-old struggled for minutes this season with the influx of new players coming in and eventually found himself the fourth choice in attacking midfield behind Kostas Fortounis, Pep Biel and James Rodriguez.
After being linked with moves away on loan since December, Camara finally departed on deadline day to Atromitos on loan for the rest of the season.
Aboubakar Kamara
Striker
27 Years Old
Loan to Aris
Signed for a huge 5 Million Euro fee in the summer from Aris, Aboubakar Kamara under Pedro Martins, despite his hefty fee was not fancied by then-new manager Carlos Corberan or Michel in the half-season played at Olympiakos.
The former Fulham striker also found himself either behind El Arabi or Cedric Bakambu in the pecking order or shifted out of position onto the wing. He eventually left the Thrylos in January, returning to former club Aris on loan with an option to buy 2.5 Million Euros.
Pêpê
Central Midfield
25 Years Old
Loan FC Cartagena
After the 25-year-old’s loan at Turkish side Ankaragücü was cut short, Pepe was not fancied by Michel. So after a plethora of loans since he failed to shine for former boss Pedro Martins, Pepe was sent out again this time to Spanish second division side Cartagena until the end of the season.
Pierre Kunde
Central Midfield
27 Years Old
Loan to VfL Bochum
Much like Aguibou Camara, the Cameroonian international suffered this season from the bloated Olympiakos squad. Kunda started out looking like he would be the successor to outgoing Mady Camara in the Thrylos midfield.
But with the arrival of the excellent Hwang In Beom and Diadie Samassekou, the 27-year-old saw much less game time throughout the first half of the season. Even though most Olympiakos supporters thought Kunde could remain a good squad option, he was sent out on loan to Bundesliga side Bochum for the remainder of the season.
Doron Leidner
Left-Back
20 Years Old
Loan to Austria Vienna
One of the highest-rated young players in Europe struggled to even get into the match-day squad and was eventually sent out on loan. Israeli left-back Doron Leidner arrived in Piraeus last summer and it was expected that he would compete with Oleg Reabciuk for a place in the first team. However, the 20-year-old fell victim to several circumstances.
Firstly the arrival of Marcelo on deadline day immediately relegated him to third choice in the left back pecking order. Then there were issues with getting a European passport so that he could be registered as an EU player on the Olympiakos roster. Then there was the constant changing of managers which did not help his cause either.
Eventually Olympiakos, with the arrival of Ramon from Flamengo, not wishing for Oleg to leave midseason despite numerous suitors and Marcelo staying at the club until the end of the season, Leidner was sent out on loan to Austria Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga. It is hoped though that eventually come the summer, the 20-year-old can return, and that Thrylos don't waste another highly-rated talent.
Sime Vrsaljko
Right-Back
31 Years Old
Released without a club
One of the marquee signings of the summer window, Croatian international Sime Vrsaljko arrived with huge expectations for Olympiakos. The fans finally felt like they had a top-level right back with champions league experience, a title winner with Atletico Madrid and strong leadership skills that could be vital for Thrylos in all competitions.
This did not transpire, however. The 31-year-old kept picking up consistent injuries throughout his half-season in Piraeus meaning he was never available and when he was he was not fully hit. He did show flashes of what he had produced previously in Madrid but eventually, Michel opted to play Avila and even Androutosos and Vrousai over the Croatian. Come January, Vrsalijko agreed to terminate his contract with Olympiakos and at the time of the writing he has not yet found a new club.
Ui-jo Hwang
Striker
30 Years Old
End of loan to Nottingham Forest
A loan signing that went from bad to worse. Ui-Jo Hwang took some convincing to sign for Olympiakos initially rejecting the opportunity to come to Piraeus. But after fellow international Hwang In Beom convinced him to join and with Evangelos Marinakis other club Nottingham Forest signing the player, the striker joined Thrylos on loan last summer. It is safe to say however that this move did not work. The 30-year-old despite featuring in every Europa League match and a handful of domestic games had a torrid time in front of goal and failed to score in any of his appearances. Michel seemed to deem the South Korean international surplus, with strikers Cedric Bakambu and El Arabi both in form. After some difficulty, due to UEFA rules stating that a player cannot appear for more than two European clubs in the same season, Hwang's loan was cancelled by Olympiakos and he was sent to his native South Korea to play for FC Seoul for the rest of the season.
Josh Bowler
Right Winger
23 Years Old
End of loan Nottingham Forest
Another Nottingham Forest loanee, Josh Bowler had impressed then manager Carlos Corberan in the Championship, when the Spaniard was coaching Huddersfield Town and the English winger was at Blackpool. Signed by Forest last summer, Bowler was immediately sent out on loan to Olympiakos. Unfortunately, Bowler also fell victim to the transitional season that Thrylos have been going through. Despite looking decent when he was given the chance to play, these opportunities were few and far between and after Michel gave him a chance to prove himself, he eventually decided that Bowler was not the right fit for his squad. Like Hwang, Bowler's loan was cancelled prematurely and he was sent on loan to his former club Blackpool for the rest of the season.
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