Charalampos Kostoulas: Youth League winner is being scouted by Man United & Co.

Talents Calendar

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If Charalampos Kostoulas had to decide on a new club, he would be spoiled for choice. Top clubs from all over Europe have scouted the Olympiacos FC top talent. The Greek site Sport24 has mentioned Bayern Munich, Man United, Juventus, Fiorentina and Gladbach. In England there have been reports about Real Madrid and West Ham United while adding a significant pricetag of €20m. But why is the 17-year-old in such high demand?

For Kostoulas, football is in the DNA. His father, Athanasios, played over 300 games in the Greek first division and won half a dozen championships with Olympiacos while also playing two games for Greece. His older son Konstantinos (19) is currently on loan from Olympiacos at Rio Ave in Portugal and is, like his father, a defender. Charalampos plays in the attack.

The Kostoulas brothers started their careers at AS Agia Anna and were soon discovered by bigger clubs, especially Charalampos. At a tournament in Düsseldorf, Germany, the then 12-year-old was allowed to display his skills at PAOK, scoring ten goals. Rivals Olympiacos became aware of the impending transfer and didn’t want to see the sons of their former player play for their biggest rivals. The record champions hijacked the deal at the last moment.

As a result, the Kostoulas brothers followed their father’s path to Piraeus, where Charalampos’ goals led the youth teams from success to success. After leading the U15 to the championship in 2021/22, he signed his first professional contract that September. Then in January 2023, aged 15 years, seven months, and 25 days, he debuted for Olympiacos B in the second division against PASA Irodotos (4-0). Then, with the U19, Kostoulas won the championship in 2023 and 2024, and on top of that, the UEFA Youth League—he scored five goals in eight games.

For some time, Kostoulas has been a big part of the reserve team, scoring three goals and assists in 22 games. Ahead of the 2024/25 season, head coach José Luis Mendilibar promoted him to the first team, and on matchday 1, he was included in the first team. Then on matchday 11, Kostoulas aged 17 years, five months, and 11 days, became the youngest league goalscorer in Olympiacos’ history when he scored against rivals PAOK (3-2). In the latest Greece update, his market value increased from €2.4m to €3m.

“His greatest strength is his flexibility,” TM data scout and market value admin ‘To-Piratiko said. The 185cm tall forward can also play as a supporting striker, a no.10 or on the wing. “He has been great this season,” Area Manager Greece at Transfermarkt Nikos Sofis said. “He has strength and technical abilities and uses his body to protect the ball; his work-rate and finishing abilities are excellent. He is a quick and dynamic player.” But he still has to work on his precision.

Despite all the media attention and the interest from all over Europe, Sofis describes Kostoulas as a humble player. The local media also keeps pointing out that the talented striker, who keeps receiving opportunities despite having prominent competition in the form of Roman Yaremchuk and Gelson Martins, remains with both feet on the ground. Olympiacos hopes to sign the top talent to a new contract once he turns 18—the current deal runs until 2026. But if both sides can’t agree to a new deal, then next summer would be the last opportunity to earn a significant transfer fee. Speculations are that a deal could be reached for less than €20m.

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2007 and 2008. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.