Cyprus Football Round-Up: Club Restructures, Transfers, and Institutional Changes Set the Stage for 2025/26 Season

As the 2025/26 football season approaches, Cypriot clubs are pressing ahead with commercial partnerships, structural reforms, and high-profile transfers. From AEL Limassol’s financial reset and sponsorship deals to key moves at APOEL, Apollon, AEK, and Anorthosis, the off-season has been anything but quiet. Here’s a full summary of the major developments across the island.

AEL Limassol: New Partnerships, Shareholders and Scouting Department

Following a significant restructuring, AEL Limassol has unveiled a series of key updates designed to stabilise the club and modernise operations.

Commercial and Financial Restructuring
The club recently announced a major sponsorship agreement with international betting company CopyBet, which will be featured as the main shirt sponsor on the club’s commemorative 95th anniversary kit. During a press conference on July 1st, club representative Nikolas Leventis called the deal the most important commercial partnership in AEL’s recent history.

Leventis also confirmed that AEL has cleared all outstanding debts to the Tax Commissioner, marking a turning point for the club’s financial stability. He encouraged fans to support the project through increased season ticket sales, noting that the club currently has 1,500 holders.

Shareholding and Investment
The General Assembly of AEL also ratified the agreement with Andrew Bujdzyński, founder of IC Markets EU, who becomes both a shareholder and one of the club’s principal sponsors. In addition to financial support, Bujdzyński has provided land for new training facilities for the football team and academies, as well as an indoor facility for the basketball and volleyball departments.

Chris Panayiotou, a tech entrepreneur and owner of Sigma TV and Politis Group, has also been formally added to the shareholder structure. He has pledged to support youth development and long-term sustainability, stating, “AEL is not just a team – it’s history and future. I want to contribute responsibly and help the club evolve.”

Scouting Department Relaunch
AEL has also launched a revamped Scouting Department, headed by Yiannis Theodorou, with support from former player Nikolas Englezou and video analyst Michael Eleftheriades, known for his work with StepOut and PAEEK’s youth system. The department aims to adopt data-driven recruitment strategies and modern performance analysis techniques, under the supervision of General Director Ivan Trickovski.

APOEL: Iván Alejo Stays – Despite Internal Disagreements

APOEL have confirmed the permanent signing of Spanish winger Iván Alejo from Cádiz, following a six-month loan spell. The move comes despite earlier reports that new head coach Pablo García was not keen to retain the player.

Alejo had reportedly not been paid for four months during his loan spell, nearly prompting a complaint to FIFA. However, the club resolved part of the outstanding payment in time to avoid legal action. Despite the tension, APOEL management have pushed through with the transfer, with the player signing a full contract for the new season.

Apollon Limassol: Andreas Siikkis Deal Confirmed

Apollon Limassol have officially announced the signing of Andreas Siikkis from Omonoia Aradippou. The 24-year-old Cyprus international right-back has agreed a contract until May 2027, with an option to extend to 2028. Siikkis becomes the latest addition in Apollon’s summer squad rebuild.

AEK Larnaca: Active in the Market with Ivanović and Saborit

AEK Larnaca have made back-to-back signings, confirming agreements with Djorđe Ivanović and Enric Saborit.

Ivanović, a Serbian winger with experience across several European clubs including Partizan, Olimpija Ljubljana, and Shakhtyor Soligorsk, has signed a two-year contract after AEK reached terms with FK Čukarički.

AEK also announced a preliminary agreement with Spanish left-back Enric Saborit, pending a medical and final paperwork. Saborit has played for Athletic Bilbao, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gaziantep, and Deportes Iquique, bringing significant international experience to the squad.

Charly Musonda Announces Retirement After Anorthosis Spell

Charly Musonda, the former Chelsea midfielder who joined Anorthosis in 2023, has announced his retirement from football at age 28. The Belgian made only 11 appearances for the club and struggled to make an impact before parting ways earlier this year.

Musonda made the announcement during an episode of the Rising Ballers Podcast, citing mental health challenges and a desire to “live with purpose” following a career derailed by injuries and setbacks. His time in Cyprus, though brief, is another reminder of the risks clubs take when signing players with long injury histories.

CFA Restructures Leadership – Theodorou Appointed Deputy President

The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) has officially appointed Theodoros Theodoulou as its new Deputy President, following a unanimous vote from the Board of Directors, based on a recommendation by CFA President Charis Loizides.

Theodoulou, a former Vice President and representative of Anorthosis, has held senior roles in auditing and finance, including as President of Kreston Global Audit Group and as an ex-member of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additional committee reshuffles were announced:

• Fotis Fotiou becomes Chair of the National Teams Committee.

• Evangelos Mouskos now leads the Finance Committee.

• Phoivos Vakis, General Secretary, will head the Refereeing Subcommittee, supported by Fotiou, Mouskos, and Dimitris Grigoris.

The inclusion of Grigoris, a controversial figure among Omonoia fans, has prompted speculation over potential behind-the-scenes rapprochement between the club and the CFA. Just months ago, Omonoia had reportedly lobbied for Grigoris to be promoted within the association. His expanded role now raises questions about the broader strategic alignment between the club and football authorities.

Fidias Panayiotou Faces Backlash Over Interview in North Cyprus

Newly elected MEP Fidias Panayiotou has sparked widespread criticism after conducting an interview with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in the occupied north of the island.

Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis condemned the move, stating that it undermined UN resolutions and provided material for political exploitation by the occupying regime.

Refugee football club PAEEK Keryneia also issued a strongly worded statement, describing the visit as “blasphemous” and an insult to displaced communities, warning against the normalisation of occupied institutions for the sake of digital content.