Panathinaikos announces departure of five players amid squad rebuild

Panathinaikos confirmed that five footballers have left the club as it prepares a new roster for the upcoming season. The departures include Greek right‑back Giannis Kotsiras, Serbian midfielder Filip Juricic, French goalkeeper Alphon Laffon (whose loan from Lens expired), Portuguese forward Renato Santos and Spanish striker Xabi Hernandez.

The club’s statements praised each player’s contribution. Regarding Kotsiras, Panathinaikos said he was a key figure in the 2022 and 2024 Greek Cup victories and thanked him for his service. For Juricic, the announcement highlighted his 114 appearances, 20 goals and role as captain. Laffon’s loan ended without renewal. Santos and Hernandez left after limited impact, with Santos failing to meet expectations and Hernandez making 14 appearances and two goals.

These exits are part of a broader rebuilding effort as the team plans to reshape its squad ahead of the new league campaign.