Mumbai City FC acquire Greek striker Nikolaos Karelis' services for ISL 2024-25 season
Mumbai City FC announced on Thursday, July 11, the signing of Nikolaos Karelis on a one-year contract, which will see the 32-year-old stay at the club at least until the end of the 2024-25 season.
The Greek forward, known for his extensive experience and goal-scoring prowess, will bolster the already stacked squad ahead of the upcoming season. Expressing his excitement about joining the Islanders, Karelis said in a press release:
"I am thrilled to embark on this new journey in a culturally rich country. I have heard many wonderful things about Mumbai City FC and can’t wait to join the club."
"The team has achieved significant success over the past few years, and I am eager to contribute to its continued success in the upcoming season. I look forward to being part of this dynamic team and playing in front of their passionate fans."
With Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Iker Guarrotxena, and Jakub Vojtus leaving the club, Mumbai needed to make some quality additions to their attacking department. Acquiring Karelis' services is a statement step towards those ambitions and head coach Petr Kratky explained:
"Nikos is a highly talented player who perfectly matches the requirements we expect from our forwards. He has experience playing in various European countries and has consistently proven his caliber in different leagues."
"We trust his capabilities greatly and are excited to have him with us at the club for the upcoming season. We believe his skills and experience will be valuable to our team."
A look at Nikolaos Karelis' career
But who is Nikolaos Karelis? Well, the Crete-born striker began his professional career at age 16 with Greek side Ergotelis, making his debut on the final day of the 2007-08 Greek Super League season. At the time, he became the youngest player ever fielded for Ergotelis in a league match.
However, it was at Panathinaikos where Karelis came to his own, scoring 36 goals and assisting 17 times across 111 appearances. At KRC Genk in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, he continued his rich vein of form, finding the net on 33 occasions.
Most recently, he plied his trade at Panetolikos, where he served as captain, from 2021 until the recently-concluded season.
Outside Greece, Karelis has also showcased his talent across multiple European leagues with stints at ADO Den Haag in Eredivisie, Brentford in the Championship, and Amkar Perm in the Russian Premier League. He also made his mark in the UEFA Europa League group stages, scoring four goals in 12 appearances for Panathinaikos and Genk.
Karelis also garnered experience on the international stage, representing Greece at various youth levels, scoring 15 goals in 43 appearances and made his senior national team debut during the UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifiers, scoring against Finland. He has since then earned 19 caps and scored three goals for the senior national team.