Panathinaikos secures €5.5m Dutch defender as de Vrij’s new partner

Dutch defender Rick van Drongelen, the 27‑year‑old, has signed for Greek giants Panathinaikos, rejecting a move to Turkey's Trabzonspor, with the club agreeing a €5.5 million fee and a contract running to mid‑2030, and he will travel to Athens for a medical, reported on Saturday evening.

Panathinaikos pursued Drongelen after three strong seasons at Samsunspor in Turkey, where his performances attracted multiple bids from Trabzonspor. The Turkish side had seemed a natural next step, but the Greek club outbid them.

The Greek club agreed a €5.5 million transfer fee, exclusive of bonuses, 27‑year‑old will travel to Athens for a medical before signing a contract expected to last four seasons, effectively until mid‑2030.

At Panathinaikos, Drongelen is set to partner fellow Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij, who arrived on a free transfer from Internazionale. The squad already features Dutch players Tonny Vilhena and Cyriel Dessers, adding to the Dutch contingent.

The transfer gives Panathinaikos a proven defender with recent Turkish league experience. For Drongelen, the deal secures a long‑term contract with a club competing in the Greek top flight.