The Athens Goalkeepers Academy (AGA) is proud and delighted to announce the transfer of Giorgos Pappas to Rayo Vallecano!
The 16‑year‑old goalkeeper – born in 2009 – takes a major step towards his dream, having agreed on all terms to join the Madrid club’s Academy for the 2025‑26 season. Rayo Vallecano identified his talent, believed in his potential, and is now giving him the opportunity to showcase his skills in Spanish football.
The Athens Goalkeepers Academy played a decisive role in making this transfer happen. Under the guidance of the AGA coaching team, Pappas has been training and developing for the past four years, following the AGA Training Methodology across all levels. His journey included eight different training and assessment camps, one‑on‑one sessions, three summer goalkeeper pre‑season programs, and three international training trips.
During one of these trips – to Madrid – Rayo Vallecano spotted him during a dedicated evaluation process and offered him a place in their Academy. With AGA’s mediation, the transfer was successfully completed.
It is worth noting that Giorgos Pappas is the third goalkeeper in the last four years to secure a move to a Spanish club through the Athens Goalkeepers Academy, following the transfers of Dimitris Stamatakis (2021) and Stamati Orphanos (2024) to Atlético Madrid.
Christos Lamprou: We are honored by the trust of top clubs abroad
Christos Lamprou, Head of the Athens Goalkeepers Academy, who travelled to Spain with Pappas and his family to finalize the deal, commented:
“This is the third time in the past four years that one of our goalkeepers has signed for the youth setup of a LaLiga club. The trust shown by major clubs from Spain, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, and Cyprus is a great honor for AGA. It reflects the clear image they have of our work, built through years of meaningful collaboration.
Giorgos Pappas joined the Athens Goalkeepers Academy through the Goalkeeper School Academy and the Greek Goalkeeping Network founded by AGA, and most recently played for Thyella Pyrgou. He has been trained and evaluated by AGA, as well as by top European goalkeeper coaches who we invite every year to our camps. That is how the pathway to Spain and Rayo Vallecano opened for him.
We are thrilled to help these young athletes take a major step forward in their lives – both for themselves and for their families. This is something we will continue doing in the future with even greater enthusiasm, as we believe that every goalkeeper who follows the Athens Goalkeepers Academy program can reach their full potential.
We wish Giorgos every success – we will be by his side every step of the way.”
