Official: In Athens Kallithea, Valbuena!

It is now a fact: O Mathieu Valbuena in Athens Kallithea! “City” announced the acquisition of the 39-year-old ace, who carries a rich resume, having played 52 times with the French national team, as well as for a number of years in the Championnat. At the same time, he has already honored us with his presence at our places, wearing his jersey Olympiakou the four-year period 2019-23, in which he had 150 appearances, 18 goals and 43 assists.

The announcement

Athens Kallithea FC announces the signing of French striker Mathieu Valbuena on a free transfer.

Valbuena, 39, has won three championships and one Greek Cup with Olympiakos, one league and three French Cups with Marseille, has 122 appearances in total between the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Conference League and 52 appearances for the French national team.

Born in Bruges, north of Bordeaux, Valbuena began his career with local side Libourne Saint-Seurin, quickly leading them to promotion to Ligue 2 and securing a move to Olympique de Marseille at the age of 21.

Valbuena spent eight seasons at Marseille from 2006/07 to 2013/14, winning the Ligue 1 championship in 2009/10, the club’s first in 18 years (and their last to date), winning the Coupe de la Ligue in three consecutive seasons 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12, and making 330 total appearances in all competitions with 38 goals and 58 assists.

At European competition level, Valbuena helped Marseille reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and made 48 appearances in total with four goals and six assists between the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, with highlights a winner against Liverpool at Anfield (2007/08 Champions League), a winning goal against Dortmund at Westfalenstadion (2011/12 Champions League), and a winning assist against Inter Milan at San Siro (2011/12 Champions League).

After he left the club to join Dinamo Moscow in August 2014, Marseille retired Valbuena’s number 28 shirt.

After a highly productive spell in Moscow, recording six goals and 17 assists in 40 games between the Russian Premier League and Europa League, Valbuena returned to France with Lyon in August 2015.

In two seasons, Valbuena helped Lyon finish second in Ligue 1 in 2015/16 and reach the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2016/17, making 76 appearances in all competitions with 12 goals and 14 assists.

Valbuena’s next stop was Turkish giants Fenerbahce, where he continued his attacking exploits with 12 goals and 24 assists in 71 total games over two seasons, before finally coming to Greece with Olympiakos.

Valbuena became a fan favorite in a highly successful four-year spell in Piraeus, winning the Greek Super League title three times in the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, as well as the Greek Cup in the 2019/20 season. 20, counting 82 total appearances in domestic competitions with 14 goals and 27 assists.

In Europe, Valbuena made 39 appearances in total, with three goals and 13 assists between the Champions League and Europa League, helping Olympiacos reach the last 16 of the Europa League in consecutive seasons in 2019/20 and 2020/21, with the top his moments include an assist in the Reds’ famous win against Arsenal at the Emirates in February 2020.

Having left Olympiakos, Valbuena spent last season in Cyprus with Apollon Limassol, making 36 total appearances with eight goals and five assists.

As an international, Valbuena has 52 caps for the France National Team, recording eight goals and 20 assists, including two goals and two assists at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where France reached the quarter-finals.

Valbuena: “I am very happy about my arrival at Athens Kallithea. I’m excited to meet everyone on the team and can’t wait for the first race of the season. The most important thing for me is my commitment to give my best in every match and I hope we have a strong season. I also want to add that I am very happy to be back in Greece, this country is wonderful.”

You’re welcome, Mathieu.