Everton’s Big Move Blocked – Panathinaikos Delay Transfer Until August Amid European Ambitions

Everton Face August Wait in Pursuit of Vagiannidis as Panathinaikos Prioritise Champions League Clash

Everton may be forced to delay any move for Panathinaikos full-back Georgios Vagiannidis until August, with the Greek club intent on retaining the defender for their crucial Champions League qualifier against Rangers.

According to a report from Record, Panathinaikos are standing firm in their position despite mounting interest in the 22-year-old, particularly from Sporting Club de Portugal, who have already submitted a formal offer.

Sporting’s proposal — a package worth €12m, consisting of a €10m fee plus €2m in add-ons — has reportedly been rejected outright. Even a personal intervention by Sporting’s director of football, Bernardo Palmeiro, who travelled to London to try and finalise a deal, failed to shift the stance of the Greek club.

Panathinaikos are understood to be open to negotiating Vagiannidis’ exit later this summer, but only after their Champions League second qualifying round tie against Russell Martin’s Rangers. The tie is being viewed as pivotal to the club’s season, both financially and competitively, and Vagiannidis is seen as essential to their prospects of progressing.

The club’s strategy appears to hinge on using the Champions League tie to raise the player’s profile further and potentially spark an auction among interested clubs once that fixture has been completed. Everton and Wolves have both been credited with interest from the Premier League, while Serie A side Atalanta are also reportedly monitoring the situation.

The Greek club’s willingness to delay discussions suggests they are not short on suitors and are happy to play the long game in search of the highest possible return.

While Everton are still actively exploring reinforcements across multiple positions, they are known to be in the market for a new right-back, particularly with questions lingering around the long-term futures of both Ashley Young and Nathan Patterson. Vagiannidis, with his attacking flair and defensive composure, is seen as a potentially valuable addition for the Toffees.

For now, though, any immediate move appears off the table, with Panathinaikos making it clear that Vagiannidis is not available for transfer until August. It remains to be seen whether Sporting will return with an improved offer or whether the player’s performances against Rangers could spark further interest from elsewhere.

With Everton among those poised to act later in the window, all eyes will be on how Vagiannidis performs on the European stage in the coming weeks. Should he impress, the competition for his signature could intensify quickly.

Panathinaikos’ stance is clear — they are open to a deal, but only on their terms and in their timeframe. For now, Everton and other interested parties will simply have to wait.