Aris preparing for challenging summer with transfer ban

Aris, unable to sign any newcomers in the summer as a result of the transfer ban issued by FIFA, are aiming to keep the core of their squad together.

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Since returning to the Super League in 2018, Aris have displayed plenty of potential and ambition at the top level of Greek football, shaping a strong, talented squad which is capable of challenging the leaders. However, with FIFA dishing out a transfer ban until the summer of 2021, Aris’ plans for next season have completely been ruined. Aris are not legally allowed to anyone in the upcoming transfer window, not even free agents or players on loan.

In January, Aris loaned Fjorin Durmishaj from Olympiacos for the remainder of the 2019/2020 campaign, but FIFA subsequently rendered the signing illegal as a consequence of the club not clearing its debts. Reports have stated that Aris still owe a combined total of 1.2 million euros to former players Diogo Siston, Cristian Portilla and Javier Umbides.

The contracts of Julian Cuesta, Apostolos Tsilingiris, Abou Ba (loan), Bruno Gama, Brown Ideye, Hugo Sousa, Durmishaj (loan), Javier Matilla, Martin Tonso, Mihaly Korhut, Nicolas Diguiny, Daniel Larsson and Dimitris Diamantopoulos are all due to expire at the end of June, and Fran Velez has already agreed to sign a deal with Panathinaikos in the summer on a free transfer. The futures of Ba and Durmishaj are very much up in the air as a consequence of FIFA’s ban.

Originally, Aris were planning to let a lot of these players go after the 2019/2020 season ends, but that way of thinking has now dramatically changed. According to reports, new contracts will definitely be offered to Larsson, Diguiny, Ideye, Matilla, Gama, Cuesta and Korhut, while Soua and Diamantopoulos are still likely to depart Thessaloniki. Interestingly, Daniel Sundgren was recently involved in a documented spat with head coach, Michael Oenning, but the management will now try to calm the situation down in order to keep the Swedish right-back. It had previously been suggested that Sundgren was almost certain to leave.

The team will be reportedly shaped around Lindsay Rose, Lucas Sasha, Giannis Fetfatzidis, Matilla, Gama and Giorgos Delizisis. Aris are unwilling to part with key figures such as Fetfatzidis and Matilla as they remain aware of the importance of remaining competitive.

At the same time, Aris will submit an appeal against FIFA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and it has been stated that the organisation is confident of overturning the transfer restrictions. 

Aris are set to participate in the 2020/2021 UEFA Europa League after finishing in sixth place of the Super League regular season. The playoffs are expected to begin in the first half of June. 

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