AEK Athens completed the signing of Greek defender Babis Lykogiannis on Thursday evening, finalizing a deal for the 33-year-old left-back following his departure from Italian club Bologna.
Negotiations between the Greek Super League club and the player progressed rapidly throughout the day after both sides reached a full agreement on terms, culminating in an official announcement later that night.
Following the announcement, Lykogiannis released a message to AEK supporters stating that he was eager to see them at the stadium and expressed his enthusiasm for his new club with a traditional rallying call.
AEK Athens squad depth and transfer background
AEK Athens entered the transfer market needing immediate reinforcement at left-back after Scottish defender James Penrice left the Greek capital to join Scottish Premiership side Rangers on loan.
The departure of Penrice had left Stavros Pilios as the only natural left-back in the squad of AEK, who play their home matches at the OPAP Arena in Nea Filadelfeia, Athens.
Lykogiannis brings added tactical flexibility to the squad because he can operate as both a left-back and a centre-back. AEK plan to add the veteran defender to their European squad list for upcoming continental fixtures later in the registration process.
The transfer marks the end of a long-standing pursuit for AEK, who previously attempted to sign Lykogiannis in January 2025 before the defender opted to remain with Bologna for the remainder of that season.
Career at Bologna and Serie A statistics
Lykogiannis arrives in Athens after four years with Bologna, where he made 92 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and providing nine assists for the Serie A club.
During the 2025-26 season, the defender made 18 appearances across all competitions for Bologna and registered one assist, with his final full 90-minute appearance coming against Parma in February.
Prior to joining Bologna in the summer of 2022, Lykogiannis spent four and a half years with fellow Italian top-flight club Cagliari, who signed him for a reported 2 million euro fee in January 2018. He made 109 appearances for Sardinia-based Cagliari, recording five goals and seven assists before Bologna purchased him for a similar 2 million euro fee.
Return to Greece after 11 years in Europe
The move to AEK signals a return to Greek football for Lykogiannis after spending 11 years competing in foreign leagues across Europe.
He initially began his senior career at Piraeus-based club Olympiacos before moving to Austrian Bundesliga side Sturm Graz in 2015, where he played for two and a half seasons prior to his move to Serie A.
On the international stage, Lykogiannis has represented the Greece national team six times during his professional career.
