Olympiacos in Advanced Talks to Sign Arsenal-Linked Player

Olympiacos F.C. continues to search for reinforcements ahead of the 2026-27 season, and one area for strengthening is the goalkeeping position.

According to recent reports, the Greek club is in advanced talks to sign a transfer target who is also of interest to Arsenal.

Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that Stefan Ortega is in advanced talks to sign for Olympiacos. According to the report from the cited journalist, the Red-and-Whites had previously pushed for the signing, but the 33-year-old goalkeeper was not convinced about continuing his career in Greece.

However, the talks have now resumed, and negotiations are once again on the table. The basic terms have already been agreed, according to Plettenberg, but negotiations are now focused on the final details.

"Stefan Ortega is now in advanced talks with Olympiacos. Olympiacos have been pushing for the deal, as revealed. 33 y/o free agent had been hesitant and was close to turning the move down, but the parties have now returned to the negotiating table. The basic terms are in place. The negotiations are now focused on the final details."

Ortega signed a short-term contract with another Marinakis Football Group club, Nottingham Forest, in January 2026. When his contract expired, Forest did not try to sign him permanently, leaving the German goalkeeper’s future uncertain.

A few weeks ago, specialist outlet TransferFeed reported that Arsenal were considering signing the 33-year-old goalkeeper as a backup option. The report indicated that Kepa, Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper, wants to leave the club to earn a starting role elsewhere and has attracted interest in Italy.

Therefore, Arsenal would be looking for an experienced and inexpensive goalkeeper to serve as David Raya’s direct backup. Even so, TransferFeed notes that Ortega is not alone on Arsenal’s shortlist, as they are also targeting Jan Sommer and Matthew Ryan.

That said, this move already appears complicated and, to some extent, unnecessary, considering the Gunners have already signed Illan Meslier as their backup goalkeeper. Therefore, it is very likely that Ortega has reconsidered the Olympiacos option after initially being unenthusiastic about it.

Head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar needs to strengthen this position, especially considering that his starting goalkeeper, Konstantinos Tzolakis, is one step away from joining newly promoted Premier League club Hull City.

Tzolakis is a significant loss for the Red and Whites, but truth be told, all of the options that have been mentioned as possible successors to the Greek goalkeeper appear convincing. On one hand, there is the already mentioned Ortega, but Fenerbahce goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has also been mentioned, as has Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa, who previously played for Olympiacos.