Azzedine Ounahi seals Panathinaikos return in €15m deal

Azzedine Ounahi has completed a permanent return to Panathinaikos after the Greek club agreed a €15m transfer with Girona.

The Morocco international, 26, previously spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Panathinaikos while he was contracted to Olympique de Marseille. He has now committed his future to the Athens club by signing a contract running until 2030.

Girona will receive the full €15m transfer fee. Ounahi had been playing for the Spanish club before securing his move back to Greece, where he impressed during his first spell.

Olympique de Marseille will also benefit financially from the agreement. When the French club sold Ounahi to Girona, it negotiated a clause entitling it to 30% of any capital gain from a future resale.

That arrangement means Marseille are due to receive about €2.7m from the transfer to Panathinaikos. The payment provides the Ligue 1 club with a direct financial return from the midfielder’s next move.

Ounahi attracted considerable interest throughout the summer before deciding to remain with Panathinaikos. According to exclusive information reported by Africafoot, Ajax, PSV, FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid and Real Betis had all been closely monitoring his situation.

The midfielder, who was born in Casablanca, ultimately chose a return to Athens rather than a move to one of those clubs. His decision follows a productive first season with Panathinaikos, during which he scored five goals and contributed seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.

Ounahi is currently valued at €18m. His performances in Greece helped establish him as an important player for the club, and Panathinaikos have now secured his services on a long-term basis.

The transfer also concludes a period of uncertainty surrounding the player’s future. After leaving Marseille for Girona, Ounahi spent the 2024-25 campaign with Panathinaikos on loan before the Greek side moved to make the arrangement permanent.

Girona’s attention will now turn to their next fixture in Spain’s LaLiga 2. They are due to face Sporting Gijon in the fourth round of the competition.

The match has also been given the following pre-game odds by the betting company 1xBet: Girona are priced at 2.15 to win, a draw is 3.05, while Sporting Gijon are listed at 2.70.

Ounahi’s permanent transfer means his next chapter will take place at Panathinaikos, where he will remain under contract until 2030 after returning to the club that saw him register 12 goal involvements in his previous spell.