Talent calendar
©TM/Olympiacos Piraeus
If Charalampos Kostoulas had to decide on a new club, he would be spoiled for choice: Numerous top clubs from all over Europe have their scouts following Olympiakos Piraeus’s storming talent; the Greek online portal “Sport24” recently named FC Bayern, Man United, Juventus, Florence and Gladbach. English newspapers added two more heavyweights, Real Madrid and West Ham, and immediately put a hefty price tag on them: 20 million euros! But what exactly makes the 17-year-old special?
Football is in Kostoulas’ blood. Father Athanasios played in over 300 games in the Greek top flight, won half a dozen championship titles with Olympiakos and played two international matches – he made his debut at the end of March 2001 in the World Cup qualifier against Germany (2:4). While his older son Konstantinos (19), currently on loan from Piraeus to Rio Ave FC in Portugal, followed in his footsteps in the center of defense, his younger offspring Charalampos swirls in the attack.
The Kostoulas brothers started playing football at AS Agia Anna, and the big clubs quickly took notice of them – especially Charalampos. At a tournament in Düsseldorf, the 12-year-old was able to demonstrate his skills at PAOK Thessaloniki, which he did skillfully with ten goals. Arch-rivals Olympiakos got wind of the impending signing and didn’t want to leave the sons of ex-player Kostoulas to their big rivals. The record champions successfully intervened at the last minute.
Like their father, the Kostoulas brothers found their way to Piraeus, where Charalampos led the youth teams from success to success with his goals. After helping the U15s win the championship title in the 2021/22 season, he signed his first professional contract in September. Just a few months later, in January 2023, at the age of 15 years, seven months and 25 days, he made his professional football debut for Olympiakos B in the 2nd league against PASA Irodotos (4-0). With the U19s, Kostoulas became champions in 2023 and 2024, and he also won the Youth League with the team last season – he scored five times in eight games.
Kostoulas wants to take advantage of the opportunity at Olympiakos
Kostoulas has long been an integral part of the reserves, for which he contributed three goals and assists in 22 games. For the 2024/25 season, coach José Luis Mendilibar brought him into the first division team, and he made his debut in the starting line-up right at the start of the season. On matchday 11, at the age of 17 years, five months and eleven days, Kostoulas became the youngest league goalscorer in the history of Olympiacos with his first goal – against PAOK (3:2). His market value increased by 2.4 million to 3 million euros in the latest Super League 1 update.
“Its great strength is its flexibility,” describes TM data manager and market value admin “To-Piratiko”. The 1.85 meter tall center forward can also act as a hanging striker, as a number 10 or on the wings. He is doing excellently in his first season, says Nikos Sofis, Area Manager Greece at Transfermarkt. Kostoulas impressed with “his strength, his technical skills, the way he uses his body to secure the ball, his work for the team and his finishing in the penalty area. He is a fast, dynamic player.” But he still needs to work on his accuracy in his actions.
Despite the media attention and great interest across Europe, Sofis describes Kostoulas as down-to-earth and focused. The local media also report that the talented striker is taking the opportunity offered to him by Spanish coach Mendilibar very seriously, despite competitors like Roman Yaremchuk (29) and Gelson Martins (29). Olympiakos reportedly wants to give the top talent a new contract when he comes of age, the current one runs until 2026. However, if no agreement is reached, next summer would be the last chance for a reasonable transfer fee – probably below the speculated 20 million. Euro.
Every day from December 1st to 24th, Transfermarkt will present a talent from the 2007 or 2008 vintage from a different country. Sponsors, data scouts and users act as experts and report interesting facts about 24 young players in our talent calendar who you should keep a close eye on in the future. For example with the TM-Watchlist.
