Mediterranean youth development on the rise

For years, Greece and Cyprus have not been the first places you think of when it comes to discovering Europe’s next footballing stars. They have faced the challenges of importing veteran players, ageing squads, inconsistent results, financial challenges and not having the infrastructure to compete with Europe’s elite.

However in cities like Athens, Nicosia, Thessaloniki and Limassol, a quiet transformation has been taking place. Greek and Cypriot football is on the rise, and the rest of Europe is taking notice.

From multi-million euro teenage transfers to lifting major European trophies at both youth and senior level, these two Mediterranean nations are quickly becoming known for their talent production. This article takes a deep dive into the story behind the resurgence — what has changed, who’s making headlines, and what this means for clubs and agents looking for the next big thing.

In numbers: Evidence of a resurgence

Let’s start with some stats that back up the buzz. In Greece, the number of UEFA-licensed grassroots coaches has more than doubled — jumping from 685 in 2019 to over 1,500 by 2021. That’s a big leap in just two years, and it’s made a real difference on the training ground. Meanwhile, Cyprus took things a step further. By 2023, the Cyprus Football Association had brought 134 private academies under one roof, registering over 1,000 youth teams and 10,000 young players. They now organise more than 14,000 youth matches every year.
The results are already visible. 

Olympiacos U19’s UEFA Youth League title in 2024, with a 3-0 win over AC Milan in the final, was historic. It was the first time any Greek team had lifted a UEFA trophy at any level. And it wasn’t a fluke. They’d already knocked out Inter Milan, FC Bayern and RC Lens on their way to the final.

In the same year, Olympiacos’s first team won the first major European trophy at senior level by any Greek side, winning 1-0 in extra-time to stun Italian side Fiorentina in the UEFA Europa Conference League final. They also knocked out Premier League side Aston Villa and Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the semi-finals and quarter-finals respectively.

On the transfer front, Greece also made headlines when PAOK’s 19-year-old striker Stefanos Tzimas signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2025 for €25million - the biggest fee ever paid for a Greek player. At national team level, Greece earned promotion to UEFA Nations League League A with a 3-1 aggregate win over Scotland, led by a starting line-up filled with players aged 23 and under.

Reforms from the ground up: Youth development overhaul

So how did we get here? For Greece, after years of missed opportunities on the international stage since their iconic UEFA Euro 2004 triumph, the Hellenic Football Federation decided it was time to rebuild from the grassroots up. Coaching education was prioritised, new technical centres were developed, and clubs were encouraged to focus more on youth. Within a few years, the percentage of homegrown players in Greek top-flight squads more than doubled.

In Cyprus, the approach was equally bold. The CFA brought together dozens of independent academies to create a single, unified youth league. They scrapped league tables for the Under-15 age group and focused instead on fun, participation and learning. Over 14,000 matches are now played each year in a system built to support development, not just results. The changes earned Cyprus a UEFA Grassroots Award and, more importantly, started to shift the culture around football on the island.

Cypriot clubs, once heavily reliant on foreign signings, are also changing course. In 2023, the league handed out €300,000 in fines to clubs who didn’t meet the requirement to field at least two Cypriot players per match. Those fines were then reinvested directly into grassroots football. That’s policy with purpose, and it’s working. Many clubs that once filled their squads with 80–90% foreign players are now fielding more local talent and investing in their own academies.

Club Academies Bearing Fruit

The change isn’t just happening behind the scenes; it’s showing up on the pitch. Olympiacos have integrated academy graduates like goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, midfielder Vasilis Sourlis and wonderkid forward Charalampos Kostoulas into their senior squad. Their Youth League-winning U19 team racked up wins over some of Europe’s elite and featured future stars like Christos Mouzakitis and Theofanis Bakoulas.

In fact, TransferRoom’s Potential Player Ratings metric and our findings in March 2025 revealed that Olympiacos had two of the top five Under-21 players by Potential Rating in the UEFA Europa League knockout phase: Charalampos Kostoulas and Mouzakitis. Kostoulas is also among the top five teenagers in world football by Potential Rating.

PAOK Thessaloniki have arguably been even more aggressive in its youth push. The club’s academy has been producing a steady stream of talent, including two of the most sought-after names in Greek football: Giannis Konstantelias and Stefanos Tzimas. PAOK’s youth team have dominated domestically, and their senior team gave significant minutes to U21 players throughout the season - a clear signal that development is a core part of their philosophy.

Over in Cyprus, Aris Limassol has gone from minnows to trailblazers. After winning their first-ever league title in 2022/23, they’ve invested heavily in youth, opening 15 academy sites across Cyprus and registering over 1,200 players in their development system.

They have also joined TransferRoom from 2023 to capitalise on their success and reach a new global audience of over 800 clubs, leading to the club-record €2.75million sale of Shavy Babicka to Toulouse FC in France's Ligue 1.

“We are, from our history, an old club, but we from the new generation, we are quite new, yes. Our project started in 2021,” Sikorski, their Sporting Director added.

“[Joining TransferRoom] is a perfect opportunity for us, to get good relations, to get connections to other teams around the world.

Rising Stars: Meet the New Greek and Cypriot Talent

We’ve picked out a few names to watch as players at the forefront of this revolution.

Charalampos Kostoulas (17, Olympiacos, pictured) 
TR Rating | 80.5 
TR Potential | 92.9 
xTV | €27M

Rarely has there been so much hype around a Greek wonderkid and the hype is justified. A versatile attacking midfielder who captained Olympiacos to their historic UEFA Youth League win, Kostoulas is known for his composure, vision, and ability to dictate the tempo.  Touted as one of Greece’s brightest young leaders, his ceiling is incredibly high. Only Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Geovany Quenda and Estêvão have a higher TransferRoom Potential Rating, as shown by our data in March 2025.

Konstantinos Tzolakis (22, Olympiacos) 
TR Rating | 82.1 
TR Potential | 91.4 
xTV | €18M

Now firmly established as Olympiacos’ No.1, Tzolakis has developed into one of Greece’s most dependable young goalkeepers. Calm under pressure and strong in 1v1s, he's been key in their domestic and European success.

Christos Mouzakitis (18, Olympiacos Piraeus) 
TR Rating | 78.7 
TR Potential | 90.7 
xTV | €21M

A playmaking central midfielder who excels in ball retention and has a knack for goals in big games, Mouzakitis starred in Olympiacos’ UEFA Youth League run. With top-flight minutes on the horizon, he’s a name quickly climbing scouts' watchlists.

Christos Tzolis (23, Club Brugge)
TR Rating | 83.2
TR Potential | 88.9
xTV | €20M

Once the golden boy at PAOK, Tzolis has taken a winding but impressive path. A move to Norwich didn’t quite work out, but a loan in Germany revived his confidence. Now at Club Brugge, he played a starring role in their run to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in 2024/25. He’s scoring regularly and looks ready to elevate his level even further.

Konstantinos Karetsas (17, Genk)
TR Rating | 73.4
TR Potential | 88.5
xTV | €14M

A creative midfielder with flair and vision, Karetsas is one of the most exciting teenage prospects in Greece right now. Born in Belgium but representing Greece, he made history by becoming Greece’s youngest ever goal-scorer in a senior international match. He’s already making waves at Genk, and Premier League clubs are paying attention.

Giannis Konstantelias (20, PAOK)
TR Rating | 78.2
TR Potential | 87.4
xTV | €15M

Konstantelias has everything: creativity, control, and that intangible spark. He’s been linked with Arsenal, Manchester City, and AC Milan and it’s easy to see why. Still playing for PAOK, he’s a driving force in their midfield and a fan favourite.

Konstatinos Koulierakis (21, VFL Wolfsburg) 
TR Rating | 81.1 
TR Potential | 88.2 
xTV | €25M

After impressing at PAOK, Koulierakis earned a move to the Bundesliga where he’s been steadily growing into a reliable centre-back. Strong in the air and composed on the ball, he’s already earning comparisons to Greece’s great defensive leaders.

Stefanos Tzimas (19, Brighton)
TR Rating | 74.5
TR Potential | 87.5
xTV | €37M

A striker with height, strength and a clinical touch, Tzimas made headlines with his €25 million move to Brighton. He’s been on loan in Germany and has impressed under the guidance of Miroslav Klose. Big things are expected.

Christos Zafeiris (22, Slavia Prague)
TR Rating | 77.1
TR Potential | 86.7
xTV | €11M

A dual-national from Norway, Zafeiris has brought calm and class to Greece’s midfield. Playing in European competitions with Slavia Prague, he’s gaining valuable experience and adding international depth to the national team.

Stelios Andreou (22, Charleroi)
TR Rating | 75.4
TR Potential | 85.5
xTV | €3.9M

A towering, composed defender, Andreou moved from Cyprus to Belgium at just 18 and hasn’t looked back. Now a regular for both Charleroi and the Cyprus national team, he’s on the radar of clubs in France and Germany.

Loizos Loizou (21, Omonia Nicosia)

TR Rating | 71.5 
TR Potential | 82.5 
xTV | €1.3M

Quick, direct, and fearless, Loizou broke through at just 16 and has already spent time in the Eredivisie. With continued growth, he could be one of Cyprus’s most influential players in years.

National teams gaining momentum

The rise of young talent is feeding directly into the national teams. For Greece, the signs are particularly encouraging. In a playoff against Scotland, they started a line-up with an average age under 23 and still cruised to a 3-0 win. That win earned them a spot in Nations League League A, putting them among Europe’s elite once again. They’ve also climbed 12 spots in the FIFA rankings over the past year.

Cyprus’s climb is more gradual, but it’s still very significant. The U21s nearly qualified for the UEFA European Championship and secured an impressive win over Portugal along the way. The senior side is younger than ever, with players like Andreou and Loizou forming the backbone of a new era.

European Scouts are taking notice

It’s not just national pride that’s growing - so is international interest. Brighton’s €25million signing of Stefanos Tzimas wasn’t made in a vacuum. Clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich have also been watching. Arsenal and Manchester City have scouted Konstantelias, and Belgian clubs like Genk are investing early in Greek talent.

In 2024 alone, over 40 scouts from top leagues attended Super League and UEFA Youth League matches in Greece. Cyprus is also gaining traction, with more than 30 Cypriot players under the age of 23 now active in the top 30 European leagues.

Agents have also become more strategic. Deals are smarter, development pathways more tailored, and the connections with European markets much stronger than in previous years.

The road ahead: Lasting change or a passing phase?

So, is this just a golden generation or something more lasting? All signs point to a long-term shift. With better coaching, smarter structures, and clubs taking youth seriously, Greece and Cyprus look well placed to keep producing talent.

For clubs and agents across Europe, the takeaway is simple: don’t sleep on these Mediterranean nations. Whether you're hunting for your next goalscorer, a midfield maestro, or a smart defensive addition, Greece and Cyprus are now markets worth watching closely.