Indian Super League (ISL) side Mumbai City FC have further strengthened their attack by signing Greek forward Nikolaos Karelis on a season-long contract. The 2023–24 ISL Cup winners have also added Jon Toral, Brandon Fernandes, and Jeremy Manzorro, creating a formidable offensive lineup for the upcoming season.

Earlier in May, the Islanders announced the departure of Jorge Pereyra Diaz after his two-year stint with the club. During his time with Mumbai City FC, the Argentine forward showcased his goal-scoring prowess and efficiency in the opponent's box. Notably, the 33-year-old was the joint-highest goalscorer for the club last season, scoring 27 goals and providing ten assists across all competitions.

To fill the void left by Diaz, the two-time ISL League Shield winners signed Karelis, who brings diverse European experience to the club. As the forward embarks on his first stint in Asian football, here are five things to know about the Islanders' new forward.

1) Youth Career and Senior Debut with Ergotelis

Karelis came through the Greek club Ergotelis youth system and began his professional football career with the Heraklion-based team at just 16 years old.

He made his debut as a second-half substitute in Ergotelis' 2–0 victory over Skoda Xanthi in the season's final match, becoming the youngest player to ever appear for Ergotelis in a Greek Super League game.

His talent caught the attention of several clubs, including Premier League side Arsenal. Karelis travelled with Arsenal to Italy for the Atalanta U16s Cup Tournament, where he further impressed by scoring two goals and helping the Gunners win the tournament. Having already committed his future to Ergotelis, a final contract with Arsenal was not signed, and he returned to his parent club.

Karelis spent five years at Ergotelis, playing in 31 games and scoring one goal.

2) Over 100 club career goals

Karelis boasts a total of 361 professional matches in his career so far, scoring 103 goals and providing 29 assists.

Known for his sharp ball control, precise finishing, and adept footwork, the forward has consistently demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess throughout his career.

In the Stoiximan Super League, he has appeared in 177 matches, representing clubs like Panathinaikos FC, Panetolikos GFS, Ergotelis, and PAOK Thessaloniki. During his time at Panetolikos GFS, he scored 19 goals in 70 appearances, while at Panathinaikos FC, he netted 26 goals in 72 matches. His most prolific stint came with Panathinaikos, where he scored 36 goals in 114 competitive games.

Karelis clinched the Greek Cup with Panathinaikos in the 2013–14 season and won the double - Greece Super League and the Greek Cup with PAOK in the 2018–19 season.

Karelis was named the "Player of the Season" for the 2022–23 season during his time with Panetolikos.

3) Diverse European countries

Beyond his considerable experience in Greek league football, Karelis has also played extensively across Europe. He has featured for Genk in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands Eredivisie, Brentford in the English Championship, and Amkar Perm in the Russian Premier League.

During his tenure in the Jupiler Pro League, he scored 18 goals in 40 matches. Additionally, he made nine appearances in the Eredivisie, four in the Championship, and nine in the Premier Liga.

4) Represented Greece in different age groups and senior-level

Karelis began his journey with Greece at the U17 level and progressed through the ranks. After debuting for the U19 team in 2008, he became a regular, tallying three goals in 20 appearances. His goal-scoring prowess shone even brighter with the U21s, where he netted nine goals in just 18 appearances.

His senior team debut came in 2014 under Claudio Ranieri, marking it with a goal against Finland in Helsinki during the UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifiers. Throughout his career with the senior national team, he scored a total of three goals in 19 matches

5) Scored in the UEFA Champions League qualifier and UEFA Europa League

The Greek striker has appeared in 12 UEFA Europa League matches for Greek clubs Panathinaikos and Genk, scoring four goals and providing two assists.

During the 2014–15 and 2016–17 Europa League seasons, he scored two goals and contributed one assist each for Panathinaikos and Genk.

In the 2014–15 season, Karelis also featured in four UEFA Champions League qualifying matches for Panathinaikos FC. Notably, he scored the decisive goal against Club Brugge in the first leg of the third-round fixture, helping Panathinaikos secure a 2-1 victory. Despite this victory, a 3-0 defeat in the second leg meant his team dropped to the Europa League.

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Mumbai City FC2023-2024