Hull City have broken their transfer record to sign Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiakos Piraeus on a five-year contract. The fee is thought to be around £20m plus add-ons, which would beat Hull’s previous club record of £13m set in 2016 for Ryan Mason. Tzolakis arrives with 131 senior appearances for Olympiacos, eight trophies and a clear case for why Hull have paid up.
The fee and the record
There is a dispute only over the exact price. BBC reporting puts it at around £20m plus add-ons, while the same report says the deal is not confirmed as a fixed fee. Either way, Hull are clearly spending beyond anything they have done before, and that is the point of the move.
The record he is breaking has stood since 2016. For a club that has been careful enough with major outlays in recent years, this is a statement signing rather than a routine purchase. The deal also gives Hull a goalkeeper with European experience, not just a promising name from abroad.
Tzolakis' résumé and the next step
Tzolakis helped Olympiacos to eight trophies, including four Greek Super League titles and the 2023-24 UEFA Conference League. He also made his international debut against Malta the month after Olympiacos won that competition.
The player himself sounds eager for the move. Speaking to the BBC, Tzolakis said, "I am ready for a new chapter in my career." He added, "Hull City is something different because we are playing in the Premier League. We have to fight against top players, so it's a challenge for me." He also said, "I feel ready. I will give everything I have every single day in training to help our team to achieve its goals. I'm excited to be in England. I wanted to come to Hull City because the Premier League is the top stage."
Hull’s next home league match is against Manchester United on 2026-08-22 11:30:00+00, which is a sharp way to test a new goalkeeper. The move has the feel of a club backing a player they believe can handle the jump, and the size of the fee says they are not treating this as a short-term experiment.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
