AEK Athens have reached an agreement to sign free-agent left-back Babis Lykogiannis on a contract likely to run for two years. The 33-year-old Greek defender joins the club after leaving Italian side Bologna at the end of his contract this summer.
The Greek club was actively searching for a left-back due to an immediate need in the position. The vacancy arose following the loan move of defender James Penrice to Scottish club Rangers, which left Stavros Pylios as AEK's only available left-back.
Lykogiannis was previously linked with a transfer to AEK in January 2025. However, that move did not progress at the time, and the defender remained with Bologna. During the 2025-26 season, Lykogiannis saw limited action for the Serie A side, spending most of his time on the substitute bench. He made 18 appearances across all competitions and recorded one assist, with his last full match taking place against Parma in February.
Defensive versatility and squad depth
Capable of playing in multiple positions, Lykogiannis can operate as a central defender in addition to his primary role at left-back. The defender is expected to be added to AEK's European squad list at a later stage.
AEK Athens, based in the Greek capital, compete in the Greek Super League and European tournaments. The addition of Lykogiannis brings seasoned international experience to the club's defensive line as they manage domestic and continental fixtures.
Eleven years in foreign football
Lykogiannis has played outside Greece for 11 years, having originally moved from Olympiacos to Austrian club Sturm Graz in 2015. Two and a half years later, he made the step up to Italy's Serie A when Cagliari paid 2 million euros to acquire his services.
He spent four and a half years with Cagliari, making 109 total appearances while scoring five goals and providing seven assists. In the summer of 2022, Bologna purchased the defender for a similar transfer fee, and he remained with the club until this summer. Over four years with Bologna, Lykogiannis made 92 appearances, scoring four goals and contributing nine assists.
At international level, Lykogiannis has earned six caps for the Greece national team since making his senior debut in 2017. The agreement between AEK and Lykogiannis was reported by Greek sports outlet Gazzetta.gr.
