Kostoulas Became a Record-Breaking Sale of 40+ Million Euros, as the Result of a Mammoth Investment of Over €60,000,000

lmost 60,000,000 euros. This is the amount that Vangelis Marinakis has spent/invested in Olympiacos’ Academy and training facilities, in infrastructure intended for the youth department’s children. The amount is not excessive. It is… modest. But above all, it is indicative of what has been happening in European football over the last two years.

With the Red-Whites starring at the U19 football level, either as European champions or as a team producing elite footballers.
The fact that Babis Kostoulas became the most expensive transfer in the history of Greek football, as well as in the whole of Southeastern Europe (note: excluding Italy), is the result of everything that has been done over these 15 years of his presence at the administrative helm of the Red-Whites. Naturally, also the fact that the famous red-white reservoir has already produced Konstantis Tzolakis and Christos Mouzakitis at the highest level of Europe’s top young footballers. Plus, of course, that it is preparing to do the same with diamonds like Antonis Papakanellos, Fanis Bakoulas, Argyris Liatsikouras, and Stavros Pnevmonidis who are following. Classmates of Kostoulas and winners of the Youth League 2024.

Because Olympiacos paid, suffered, and now learned what it needs to do to create its own generations of footballers who will play a leading role in Greece and Europe.
Decisions concerning young players are always difficult and complex. Everyone needs to get on board. To have the mentality of ‘discovering, developing, improving, educating’ young footballers, with an immediate perspective of the first team and professional football. Kostoulas turned 18 on May 30. Mouzakitis came of age six months ago. The two ‘golden’ children of Olympiacos are simply the top of the pyramid.

Babis Kostoulas, playing football only for Olympiacos, reached the Premier League and the highest level directly. Not as… an extra. Not to go… on loan. But to join and play for a team considered the top football ‘nursery’ of British football. A team consistently in the top 10 of the world’s premier league. Which paid a sack of money for a Greek kid. A child who has played football in Greece and 8 games in the Europa League.

Welcome to the Albion, Charalampos! 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/xb8PJI6TbS

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 12, 2025

The 40+ million that Brighton gave is a… measurable “medal of honor” for Olympiacos. The transfer record—not only in Greece but also among countries that traditionally produce footballers (Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Turkey, etc.)—is one of those events that solidify a new reality that has emerged in Greek football. With Olympiacos now being a member of the football elite in player development.

In the past, we used to talk about Retsos. And from that point on, things became difficult. Today, however, we are talking about Kostoulas. At the same time, we are talking about Mouzakitis. About Tzolakis. In the next breath, we will be talking about Papakanelos, Pneumonidis, Liatsikouras, Pleionis. About kids who are… coming. About kids that Olympiacos has made sure to bring into its family, helping them to “grow,” to prepare, to be trained for the next step.

More of our new Greek seagull! 📸🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/ugBmSRnoNk

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 13, 2025

What Olympiacos is doing—the records it is setting—yes, they do serve as a kind of medal of honor for Greek football. But they do not serve as a “message” about what Greek football, as a whole, is selling. They do not set prices. They do not change the overall status of the sport in the country. With the exception of PAOK, which has done some work in this area, and to a lesser extent Levadiakos and Panetolikos, no other club can truly claim to have placed trust, given space, and allocated time to young players.

Olympiacos hasn’t just done this in passing. It’s done it consistently over time. Sometimes with more success, sometimes with less. But the pattern doesn’t change. The investment in the Academy has always had a long-term goal—and now that goal is being achieved. Olympiacos, as the champion of Europe at the youth level, is considered one of the top academies in Europe. This was reaffirmed this year as well, with their second consecutive appearance in the Youth League quarterfinals. And there is a strong belief that, had there not been major setbacks, they might have reached the Final again this year. After all, qualification was lost by just one goal.

🤩🤳 pic.twitter.com/dnoFQ66Cbn

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 13, 2025

Olympiacos stands out as the club that made one of the most expensive sales in this year’s European transfer market. And this isn’t about publicity. It’s a matter of… confirmation. It marks the definitive acknowledgment that the club’s status has changed. And because all strong structures are built on solid foundations, the club continuously works to make those foundations even more stable and resilient. And as that happens, more and more “Kostoulas” and “Mouzakitis” will emerge. Because Olympiacos has paved its path—not by chance, but through hard work. A lot of work. Failures, mistakes, and rough patches. But now, it has the know-how, the right people, and, most importantly, the core commitment to keep discovering new little gems.

Source: tovima.com