Simon Banza joins PAOK on loan from Al Jazira

PAOK has reached an agreement to sign Congolese international striker Simon Banza on a one-year loan from UAE-based club Al Jazira. The 29-year-old forward is expected to arrive in Thessaloniki on Friday, September 11, to undergo medical examinations.

Under the terms of the agreement, PAOK will fully cover Banza’s annual salary of €1.5 million. The deal includes a purchase option set at €4 million. Banza, who has played for clubs including Lens, Famalicão, Braga, and Trabzonspor, previously made headlines in Turkey where he scored 22 goals in 37 appearances during the 2024-2025 season.

Banza, who represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 2026 World Cup, is currently under contract with Al Jazira until June 2028.