PAOK sign Spanish defender Aritz Elustondo, boost offer for Greek left‑back Giannoulis and start preseason in the Dutch

PAOK announced the acquisition of Spanish centre‑back Aritz Elustondo on a free transfer. He signed a two‑year contract with an option for a third year, will wear the number 6 shirt and earned €1.2 million per season. Elustondo, 32, played over 300 matches for Real Sociedad and represented the Basque Country and Spain U21. He said, “PAOK believed a lot in me and I have great desire to repay this trust on the pitch.”

The club also raised its bid for Greek left‑back Dimitris Giannoulis, offering €3.5 million plus bonuses to Austrian side Augsburg, up from a previous €3 million proposal, in a bid to bring the player back to Thessaloniki.

In preparation for the new season, PAOK’s first‑team and academy moved to Zaltbommel in the Netherlands, staging training sessions after arriving via Düsseldorf. Seven academy players joined the senior squad for the core pre‑season camp.