Barkas leaving as Chygrynskiy signs extension
Goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas is set to complete his transfer to Celtic, while Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy penned a contract extension with AEK for the 2020/2021 campaign and Petar Karaklajic joined the club from Proleter.
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Barkas appears to be on his way out. According to several reports in Greece, AEK have accepted a bid of five million euros for Barkas from Celtic, an amount which will subsequently rise to 6.5 million after bonuses are added on. Barkas will travel to Scotland on Tuesday in order to undergo his medical examinations and pen a four-year contract with Celtic.
AEK will retain a 10% resale rate for Barkas.
Furthermore, Atromitos thought they were in line to receive 15% of the transfer fee, but the agreement between the Peristeri club and AEK reportedly expired in 2019. Barkas left Atromitos for AEK in 2016.
Barkas, 26, has been a superb performer for AEK over the course of his four-year spell with the Enosi. The Greek international notably won the 2017/2018 Super League with AEK and participated in the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League group stage.
Incidentally, in the Champions League third qualifying round of that particular season, Barkas had helped AEK defeat Celtic 3-2 on aggregate with two solid showings. Transfermarkt rates Barkas’ value at 2.4 million.
He has participated in 10 matches with the senior Greek national team.
CHYGRYNSKIY SIGNS FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Dmytro Chygrynskiy is staying in Athens for another year. Since he joined AEK in 2016, the experienced 33-year-old has been a rock at the back, providing the team with plenty of reliability and stability. Initially, his contract with AEK was due to expire this summer, but the club today confirmed that he has signed a one-year extension:
“AEK FC announces that a contract extension has been signed with Dmytro Chygrynskiy until the summer of 2021.”
“I’m happy that our story will continue,” stated Chygrynskiy when speaking to AEK. “I had no doubts or second thoughts about signing this contract. I believe that our performances and results in the concluding stage of the 2019/2020 campaign will give us confidence for next season, I am focused on achieving our goals. So far, winning the championship in 2018 was the biggest achievement of my career, even more so than winning the UEFA Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk! Of course, I want to play at the new stadium with AEK, but I know that things are unpredictable. You have to take it step by step. I feel at home at AEK.”
During the 2019/2020 season, Chygrynskiy made 25 appearances across all competitions for AEK, contributing with three goals.
SERBIAN PROSPECT KARAKLAJIC TO JOIN
Petar Karaklajic, a young Serbian prospect previously on the books of Proleter, has joined AEK after signing a five-year contract with the Kitrinomavri.
As it stands, AEK are yet to release an official announcement, but Karaklajic confirmed the transfer by uploading a photograph of the signing of his contract to Instagram. The 20-year-old has been signed with a view to the future by technical director Ilija Ivic.
Last season, the promising winger played in nine Serbian Super League games for Proleter, tallying three assists.
