Olympiacos complete signing of André Luiz after his rapid rise in Portugal with Rio Ave, another of the clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis
Olympiacos have completed the signing of Brazilian winger André Luiz, finalising a move that brings one of the Primeira Liga’s most in-form wide attackers to Greece after a rapid rise over the past year.
The 23-year-old arrives from Rio Ave, where he enjoyed a standout campaign in the Portuguese league. Across 19 league appearances this season, André Luiz scored seven goals and provided six assists, figures that quickly elevated his status and drew attention from clubs higher up the European ladder.
His performances built on the momentum he had already shown in Portugal following his move from Estrela Amadora.
Having travelled from Portugal to the Netherlands, he was present at the Johan Cruyff Arena to watch Olympiacos grab a historic 1-2 victory over Ajax on Wednesday, with his signing being announced a day later.
Behind the transfer was a clear show of conviction from owner Evangelos Marinakis, proprietor of the group that owns the Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest and Rio Ave.
With Marinakis’ multi-club ownership, it remains unknown whether the Brazilian is seen as a long-term solution for Olympiacos, or if it is a stepping stone towards the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
What’s certain is that Marinakis was determined to make this move happen. According to reports from Greece, the move was driven personally by Marinakis, who viewed André Luiz as a player capable of making an immediate impact and was prepared to act decisively to secure his signature.
Nothing special?
José Mourinho will face Real Madrid once again in the #UCL playoff round.
But the Portuguese manager seemed unfazed with his reaction after the draw was made. https://t.co/uX6d7hg98g #ucldraw #rmfc #benfica
— BBSportNews (@thebbsportnews) January 30, 2026
André Luiz: From modest signing to major investment
André Luiz’s arrival in Piraeus follows weeks of intense transfer speculation in Portugal. Reports throughout January 2026 consistently pointed to a €20 million release clause in his Rio Ave contract, a figure that reflected how dramatically his reputation had grown in a short space of time.
While Rio Ave’s asking price was more commonly cited at around €15 million, the existence of the clause shaped negotiations and attracted serious interest.
Benfica emerged as the most prominent rival suitor and were reported to have submitted a formal offer worth €12 million plus €3 million in performance related bonuses.
That proposal was rejected, with Marinakis unwilling to compromise on a player he strongly believed in, even in the face of pressure from one of Portugal’s dominant clubs.
The scale of the investment marks a remarkable jump from his previous transfer. Just a year earlier, in January 2025, Rio Ave signed André Luiz from Estrela Amadora for a reported €2.2 million.
Since then, his progress has been swift and sustained, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising from €2.5 million to €4.0 million by late 2025, a figure that quickly became outdated amid growing interest.
André Luiz could make his debut this weekend, with Olympiacos facing fellow title contenders AEK Athens on Sunday.