Roma seal €18m deal for Greek left‑back Konstantinos Koulierakis
Roma have completed the €18 million signing of 22‑year‑old Greek international Konstantinos Koulierakis from VfL Wolfsburg, finalising one of the quickest moves of the summer window.
The defender passed his medical and signed his contract in Rome on Monday before travelling to Wales for his first training session with the Giallorossi squad.
Koulierakis said the reception at the club was “wonderful” and that he did not hesitate to accept the offer. “I’m very happy to be here; the welcome has been wonderful. I haven’t had time to visit the city, but when my agent told me about this option, I immediately said yes,” he told the club’s official microphones.
He also praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, noting that former Wolfsburg teammates had spoken highly of the Italian tactician. “He’s one of the best coaches in Italy, and I’m very happy to be working with him,” the new signing added.
The left‑back cited former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos as his childhood idol and French international Raphaël Laporte as a current role model, highlighting the similarity in playing style and left‑footedness.
A personal connection helped seal the deal: Koulierakis recalled a phone call with former Roma centre‑back Kostas Manolas earlier this summer, during which Manolas explained the club’s values and the allure of playing in Rome. “It seemed like just a conversation between us, but then Roma actually called me,” he said.
Looking ahead, Koulierakis is eager to integrate into the squad and compete for a starting spot in Gasperini’s system. “I don’t know any of my new teammates yet, but I can’t wait to meet them,” he concluded, signalling his ambition to become a regular in Roma’s defence this season.