Greece’s Wonderkids Are Ready to Take Over Europe and Brighton | OneFootball

When Charalampos Kostoulas packed his bags for Brighton in the summer of 2025, it felt like the start of something. Not just for him, but for an entire generation of young Greek footballers who are beginning to step out of the shadows and into the European spotlight.

Greece’s golden generation of 2004 famously won the Euros with grit, discipline, and a touch of luck. But it was never sustainable. What followed was a period of stagnation, a lack of identity, and far too many missed opportunities. That tide, however, is beginning to turn.

This shift hasn’t happened by accident. Greek football has undergone a quiet revolution, especially at the academy level. Since 2023, the Hellenic Football Federation has taken major steps to overhaul the system from the ground up. One of the most significant changes was the unification of youth leagues across the country, scrapping results-driven formats at U-15 level in favour of development-first structures. Every year, over 14,000 youth games take place, creating an environment that prioritises progression over points.

Alongside these reforms, a new national training centre was unveiled in Paiania in early 2025, backed by €21.5 million in funding from FIFA and UEFA. This state-of-the-art facility now houses the national teams and provides a vital base for elite-level youth coaching and development. It’s not just a training ground for the Greek FA; it’s a symbol of intent to improve the national team.

Clubs have also stepped up. Olympiacos, for example, saw their U-19s win the UEFA Youth League in 2024. PAOK have invested over €2 million annually into their academy, with 11 age groups, 16 regional training centres, and a national scouting program. Their Football Prints project and consistent domestic dominance at youth levels show how seriously they’re taking long-term development.

Panathinaikos have expanded to 55 grassroots schools across the country, while AEK’s restructured academy benefits from historic roots and UEFA support. Even the Ajax Hellas network, launched in 2011, has helped bring Dutch coaching principles into the Greek setup.

All this has fed into a new generation of Greek players who are not only technically superior but also mentally better prepared for life at the top of the sport. Scientific training models have replaced the chaotic, win-now mentality that plagued Greek football after 2004. Now, development is smarter, more patient, and much more holistic.

Let’s take a closer look at the four names leading this new era for Greek football.

Charalampos Kostoulas – Brighton

Born in Athens in May 2007, Charalampos – or Babis – Kostoulas has quickly become the poster boy of Greece’s football resurgence. He began his journey at Agia Anna Volos before joining Olympiacos’ academy in 2019. It wasn’t long before he started breaking records, becoming the youngest player to feature for both Olympiacos B and the senior team.

In the 2024-25 season, he bagged 7 goals in 22 Greek Super League appearances, a stunning return for a 17-year-old. He’s known for his pace, intelligent movement, and ability to drift into pockets of space. Technically polished and physically robust, he’s been compared to a young Batistuta (Babistuta) – though perhaps that’s more about his swagger than style.

Brighton swooped in with a deal worth around €35 million in June 2025, fighting off interest from Manchester United and Arsenal. The Seagulls have a strong track record of developing talent and will likely ease him in before unleashing him on the Premier League.

Stefanos Tzimas – Brighton

If Kostoulas brings the flair, Stefanos Tzimas offers the muscle. Born in Thessaloniki in January 2006, the 6-foot striker came through PAOK’s academy and became their youngest-ever goalscorer. Not bad for a lad who only just turned 18.

He’s not your old-school target man, though. Tzimas is a modern No. 9: two-footed, clever with his movement, and capable of holding the ball under pressure. After catching the eye in the UEFA Youth League and scoring on his senior debut, Brighton snapped him up in early 2025 for around £20.8 million. He was immediately loaned to 2. Bundesliga side Nürnberg, where he scored 12 goals and assisted 3 times in 23 appearances.

Tzimas was also named by The Guardian in their prestigious “Next Generation” list of 2006-born talents. It won’t be long before he’s troubling defenders in England. In Kostoulas and Tzimas, Brighton will have no problem with replacing the goals that Joao Pedro provided them with last season. Greece will not lack firepower for a very long time.

Christos Mouzakitis – Olympiacos

While some are moving abroad, others are quietly bossing things at home. Christos Mouzakitis, born on Christmas Day in 2006, is a gifted central midfielder who’s been turning heads at Olympiacos. Having joined the club as a seven-year-old, he’s risen through the ranks with calm authority.

In 2024-25, Mouzakitis made 23 appearances in the Super League, scoring his first senior goal and earning his debut for the Greek national team in the Nations League. What sets him apart is his composure in tight spaces, his passing range, and his ability to dictate tempo despite his age.

La Liga clubs are circling, and Olympiacos have already rejected offers in the region of €25 million. His contract runs until 2029, but it’s hard to imagine him staying in Piraeus for that long.

Konstantinos Karetsas – Genk

Konstantinos Karetsas is a different case. Born in Belgium in 2007 to Greek parents, he represents the growing diaspora influence on Greek football. Having played for Genk and Anderlecht at youth level, he made headlines by becoming the youngest scorer in Belgian professional football at just 15.

He switched his international allegiance to Greece in 2024 and scored on his second cap in March 2025, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the national team’s history. A left-footed playmaker who can operate out wide or as a No. 10, Karetsas is valued for his creativity, quick feet, and eye for a pass.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in making a move for the Greek wonderkid in a deal that could go up to £37.8 million, with plans to loan him back to Genk, but talk of nearing an agreement for the signing appears to be premature. At 17, he already has 3 goals in 38 top-flight appearances. The numbers speak for themselves. He looks to be an elite ball-carrying midfielder who has an insane eye for a key pass.

Other names worth knowing

While Kostoulas, Tzimas, Mouzakitis, and Karetsas are leading the charge, they’re not alone. Greece’s talent pool is deeper than it’s been in decades, and several other names are making serious noise.

Giannis Konstantelias – A flair-driven attacking midfielder at PAOK who can operate centrally or from the left. At 22, he’s approaching 100 senior club appearances and is already a staple in the national team setup. Known for his sharp turns, quick feet, and the ability to break lines with both passes and dribbles, Konstantelias combines elegance with end product. His standout Nations League performance against Scotland in March 2025 – where he registered a goal and two assists – turned heads across Europe. A move abroad seems inevitable, with Bundesliga and La Liga scouts closely monitoring him.

Konstantinos Tzolakis – Now the starting goalkeeper at Olympiacos and Greece, Tzolakis has matured into a commanding presence between the posts. At 1.93m tall, he’s an imposing shot-stopper but it’s his composure and ball distribution that mark him out as modern. He’s been a standout performer in domestic competition and played a key role in Olympiacos’ UEFA Youth League triumph in 2024. Valued at over €10 million, he’s likely to be Greece’s long-term No. 1.

Christos Tzolis – Having broken through at PAOK and moved to Norwich in 2021, Tzolis’ path has been anything but linear. After mixed spells in England and the Netherlands, he exploded at Fortuna Düsseldorf with 22 goals in the 2023-24 season. Now at Club Brugge, he’s continued that form, scoring 16 goals in 38 league appearances last season. Still just 23, Tzolis has matured tactically, improving his positioning and timing of runs. A direct winger with real end product, he’s finally matching potential with performance.

Konstantinos Koulierakis – A left-footed centre-back who rose through PAOK’s academy, Koulierakis is arguably Greece’s most tactically refined defender under 23. Strong in duels, excellent at reading the game, and capable of initiating attacks with progressive passing, he’s already attracted interest from Wolfsburg and Frankfurt. In the 2023-24 Conference League, he ranked in the top percentiles for expected assists and shot-creating actions among defenders, underlining his all-round impact. He’s the kind of centre-half every modern manager craves.

Together, these players form the spine of a national side that looks more confident and capable than it has in a generation.

A generation to believe in

The rise of Kostoulas, Tzimas, Mouzakitis, and Karetsas isn’t a fluke. Greek clubs have started to prioritise youth development, European scouts are paying closer attention, and the national team setup looks far more aligned than it did a decade ago.

What unites these four players isn’t just talent, but confidence. They’re not daunted by big stages or foreign leagues. They’re thriving. And for a country that’s spent too long reminiscing about 2004, this feels refreshingly forward-looking.