Charalampos Kostoulas to Brighton: Wonderkid from Olympiakos has potential to grow to be one in all Europe’s greatest strikers | Soccer Information

A £31.4m payment for an 18-year-old with solely a season of senior soccer behind him could appear high-risk from the skin however those that have labored with Charalampos Kostoulas see it otherwise.

“For me, it is a low-risk choice as a result of I see numerous potential in him,” Sotiris Silaidopoulos tells Sky Sports activities. And he ought to know. He coached Kostoulas for 4 years at Olympiakos, first as boss of their UEFA Youth League-winning U19s, then as a first-team assistant.

Kostoulas’ boyhood membership are in little doubt that he can grow to be the most effective strikers in Europe. Clearly, it’s a view shared by these in cost at Brighton, who’ve received the race for his signature regardless of curiosity from an extended record of different golf equipment.

He turns into the second-most costly signing in Brighton’s historical past after the £40m Georginio Rutter. The hope now could be that he’ll be a part of an extended record of younger gamers to flourish there, together with Moises Caicedo, whose sale to Chelsea in 2023 banked the membership £115m.

The clamour round their newest addition started to construct throughout Olympiakos’ historic UEFA Youth League triumph final 12 months.

Kostoulas was one of many youngest gamers of their crew however completed the event with 5 objectives and two assists in eight video games, serving to them see off heavyweight opponents in Inter, Bayern Munich and AC Milan on their solution to lifting the trophy.

Kostoulas, an Olympiakos participant because the age of 12, was duly promoted to the primary crew, scoring seven instances in 22 video games final season as they received the Greek Tremendous League and in addition serving to them win the home cup. He made an additional eight appearances throughout their run to the final 16 of the Europa League.

All of the whereas adapting to a brand new place.

Kostoulas excelled as a No 9 for the membership’s academy sides however the presence of high scorer Ayoub El Kaabi at first-team stage meant he was utilized in a second striker position by supervisor Jose Luis Mendilibar, a key determine within the teen’s improvement who demonstrated appreciable religion in him proper from the beginning of final season.

Kostoulas rewarded that religion and took the positional change in his stride. “That exhibits how he can adapt and how briskly he can perceive what the sport requires,” says Silaidopoulos. “He can play in all positions within the entrance line.”

His versatility is simply a part of his attraction. Kostoulas has the technical ability to hyperlink the play, beat defenders in one-on-ones, create probabilities and mix with team-mates when coming quick or drifting large. He additionally boasts the body and physicality of a far older participant.

“His bodily capability for his age is extraordinary,” says Silaidopoulos. “He is a man who could be very sturdy. He can hold the ball like a targetman and alter path very quick utilizing his physique.

“His technical potential, particularly contained in the field, is that of an awesome finisher. He can rating with each toes, together with his head. However, for me, what folks underestimate quite a bit in Kostoulas is how intelligent and the way clever he’s throughout the video games.

“Most individuals solely see the primary elements, just like the physicality and the way good his approach is. His largest power, for me, is his intelligence and how briskly he can adapt to what a recreation wants.

“It’s wonderful for his age.”

Kostoulas solely turned 18 on the finish of Could and is anticipated to make the step up from Greece’s U21s to their senior squad quickly.

Brighton hope his adaptability and intelligence will assist him make a clean transition to the Premier League. There may be additional encouragement to be present in his power of character.

“For me, that’s one other essential side of Charalampos, perhaps even the largest one,” says Silaidopoulos. “He’s super-confident in himself. He does not really feel stress. Whilst a 17-year-old becoming a member of the first-team, he had the sensation that he was in the proper place.”

Kostoulas was equally assured when he was promoted to the U19s aged 14, and once more when he appeared for the membership’s B crew at 15. In November, he grew to become the youngest participant within the membership’s historical past to attain within the Greek Tremendous League when he headed their opener in a 3-2 win over then-champions PAOK on the age of 17 years, 5 months and 11 days.

His bodily capability for his age is extraordinary

That aim, flicked into the nook of the web after he ghosted in behind the PAOK defence to satisfy a diagonal cross from team-mate Chiquinho, was an instance of his killer intuition within the opposition field.

“That’s one thing you both have or you do not have,” says Silaidopoulos. “His feeling contained in the field is wonderful.” For the assorted coaches tasked with honing his expertise within the membership’s academy, it was nearly including technical particulars to go along with it.

“One of many major points we wished to develop within the academy was the best way he took his first touches, particularly in tight areas, to at all times be in the proper path to complete with just one or two touches contained in the opposition field,” provides Silaidopoulos.

“There have been additionally different points we labored on, like the best way to transfer contained in the field to free himself from his opponent as a striker. Now, taking part in within the first crew, he has additionally developed his potential to reach within the field from the second line, as a second striker.”

The primary-team employees at Olympiakos have been satisfied about Kostoulas’ capability to deal with the step as much as senior stage as early as pre-season final summer season, when he impressed together with midfielder Christos Mouzakitis, one other thrilling prospect from their U19s.

Each gamers went on to characteristic prominently below Mendilibar, helped by the presence of their U19s coach, who was promoted to the Spaniard’s backroom crew to assist their transition.

“In my expertise, younger gamers typically want time to adapt to the dynamic, to the tempo of coaching at first-team stage, perhaps six or seven months,” says Silaidopoulos.

“However our children from the academy confirmed they’ll do it faster. They confirmed how well-educated they’re and the character they’ve constructed up in our academy. They share the values of the membership, being humble, onerous working and assured in themselves.”

Olympiakos president Evangelos Marinakis, who additionally owns Nottingham Forest, deserves appreciable credit score for the expertise now coming via the membership’s youth set-up having invested closely of their academy and positioned it on the coronary heart of his imaginative and prescient for the membership.

Their UEFA Youth League success has made them a case research in youth improvement in Greece however the nation’s thrilling crop of younger gamers consists of the 17-year-old Genk midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas along with Kostoulas, Mouzakitis and others at Olympiakos and elsewhere.

Brighton noticed the market alternative within the nation early, having already signed 19-year-old ahead Stefanos Tzimas, a product of PAOK’s academy, from German facet Nurnberg in February.

It’s Kostoulas, although, who deserves probably the most pleasure. The £31.4m payment being paid by Brighton is the very best ever acquired by a Greek membership. There appears little doubt on both facet that he’s value it.

“For me, he is an ideal trendy striker who also can play in several positions in a very great way,” says Silaidopoulos.

“I believe Brighton have made an awesome option to signal him.”

Sky Sports activities to indicate 215 reside PL video games from subsequent season

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And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.