Greek runners-up AEK made two big-name signings on Saturday morning. Albanian European Championship goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is moving from FC Brentford to his native city. The Athenians have also reached an agreement with Argentine Roberto Pereyra, who is moving to the Greek capital from Udine on a free transfer.
After narrowly missing out on the title in the previous season, coach Matias Almeyda’s team is making a completely new start in the goalkeeping position. The current duo of Austrian Cican Stankovic and Greek international Georgios Athanasiadis can look for a new club. With the Italian Alberto Brignoli (79 league games for Panathinaikos), the Athenians had already presented a new goalkeeper.
Now another one follows with Thomas Strakosha. The 29-year-old Albanian recently finished the European Championship tournament as a regular keeper in all three group matches. Strakosha was born in Athens and also has a Greek passport. In his many years at Lazio Roma, the goalkeeper made 164 Serie A appearances before moving to Brentford FC in the Premier League in 2022. There, however, he never got beyond the role of reserve goalkeeper and only made two PL appearances and four more in the FA and League Cup
Roberto Pereyra follows Almeyda
In Athens, Strakosha will come up against an old acquaintance from Serie A. The 33-year-old Argentinian Roberto Pereyra (251 Serie A games, 29 goals for Juve and Udine, and 106 PL games, 16 goals for FC Watford) has also agreed a deal with AEK. Pereyra played for River Plate in 2011 together with AEK coach Almeyda, who was in his final season as a player at the time and immediately afterwards joined the traditional Argentinian club as coach. Now the two Argentines are meeting again in Athens.
Strakosha and Pereyra are expected to attend a medical check in Athens at the start of the week. The keeper will then sign a contract until 2027. Pereyra agreed until 2026.
