Olympiacos completes signing of Unai López and negotiates for Maffeo. Unai López leaves Rayo Vallecano to sign a contract with Olympiacos. The Greek club has also begun talks for the transfer of Pablo Maffeo from Real Mallorca following their relegation to Segunda.
Olympiacos is finalizing the signing of Unai López, who is leaving Rayo Vallecano as a free agent. The Spanish midfielder, who played 43 matches last season and recorded two goals and five assists, has agreed to a two-year contract with the Greek club, with an option for a further season. According to Greek media, the deal will be formalized in the coming days.
Several Spanish clubs, including Athletic, Sevilla, Girona, and Real Mallorca, had shown interest in Unai López, but it was Olympiacos, led by José Luis Mendilibar, who proved to be the most persistent and prompt. An important factor was Rayo Vallecano’s relegation to the Segunda, which allowed the player to negotiate freely with foreign clubs.
At the same time, Olympiacos has started working on a possible transfer of Pablo Maffeo from Real Mallorca. The 28-year-old right-back is under contract with the club until 2027, but the team's relegation to the Segunda makes his transfer more feasible for the Greek side. Despite the existing agreement, the transfer fee may be moderate unless other clubs enter the race for the player. If interest from other clubs intensifies, the amount of the deal could increase.
Girona and Real Mallorca were not considered priority options by Unai López after their relegation. Olympiacos, in turn, is using the situation in the Spanish market to strengthen its squad with experienced La Liga players. This strategy has already proven fruitful for other European clubs, as evidenced by the experience of Casademont Zaragoza, who found themselves in a similar situation on the domestic market, when the fight for survival in the Liga Endesa became a key factor in transfer decisions (more about transfer strategies in Spanish sports).
For reference: Olympiacos has traditionally been active on the Spanish transfer market, signing players who are no longer in their clubs’ plans after relegation or the expiration of their contracts. In recent years, the Greek club has repeatedly strengthened its squad with footballers from La Liga, enabling it to remain competitive on the European stage. In the 2025/26 season, Spanish clubs faced intense competition for free agents, and the relegation of Rayo Vallecano and Real Mallorca became a catalyst for a number of transfers.
