Olympiacos have turned to Chad international Marius Mouandilmadji in Piraeus, bringing in a proven scorer from Turkey as Imanol Alguacil reshapes his forward line after Ayoub El Kaabi’s serious injury. The move places the 28-year-old in direct competition with Mexico’s Armando “Hormiga” González for a place at the front of the Greek club’s attack.
Key takeaways
- Mouandilmadji has joined Olympiacos from Samsunspor on a three-year contract reportedly worth €7 million.
- His arrival follows El Kaabi’s tibia and fibula fracture suffered against Volos NFC on 5 September.
- El Kaabi is not expected to return before March 2027, although no definitive recovery date has been set.
- González was Olympiacos’ only forward registered for the Europa League before the new signing.
- Mouandilmadji produced 23 goals in 52 appearances for Samsunspor last season.
A scorer arrives from the Turkish coast
The transfer was confirmed immediately after Greece’s transfer window closed, with Olympiacos seeking greater depth at centre-forward during El Kaabi’s long absence. Mouandilmadji arrives after two productive years at Samsunspor, where he found the consistency that had eluded him earlier in his European career.
Last season was his most prolific to date. He scored 10 league goals, added five in the Conference League and struck eight times in the Turkish Cup, reaching 23 goals across 52 matches in all competitions.
He had already opened his account in the 2026-27 campaign, scoring in Samsunspor’s 3-3 draw with Göztepe on the opening weekend. An injury then kept him out for three games. Even while discussions with Olympiacos were ongoing, he started Samsunspor’s most recent match, a 5-1 defeat to Corum FK, without finding the net.
Mouandilmadji’s route to Piraeus began in central Africa. After playing for Gazelle FC in Chad and Cameroon’s Coton Sport, he moved to Porto B in July 2018 at the age of 20. A six-month loan at Desportivo Aves followed in January 2020, but reduced opportunities after his return to Porto left him without a club by January 2021.
He rebuilt his career at RFC Seraing from July of that year before making the move to Samsunspor two seasons later. Olympiacos are now betting that his output in Turkey can travel across the Aegean at a moment when their attacking options have suddenly narrowed.
What it means for González
El Kaabi’s injury changed the picture quickly. The Moroccan striker was hurt in a collision with Volos goalkeeper Marios Siampanis, suffering fractures to both the tibia and fibula. Olympiacos have moved for Mouandilmadji as an urgent reinforcement rather than waiting for their leading forward’s rehabilitation to become clearer.
For González, the newcomer brings competition rather than an immediate verdict. The Mexican started Olympiacos’ two matches after El Kaabi was sidelined. He made a forceful case in the cup against Volos, scoring twice and setting up another goal, before drawing a blank in the league meeting with OFI Crete last weekend.
With González already the sole striker listed for Olympiacos’ Europa League campaign, his continental role remains particularly important. But domestically, Mouandilmadji’s arrival gives Alguacil another experienced option for a season in which the club must cover a lengthy absence and sustain challenges on several fronts.
SEO title: Olympiacos sign Marius Mouandilmadji as González faces new competition
SEO description: Olympiacos have signed Chad striker Marius Mouandilmadji from Samsunspor for a reported €7 million after Ayoub El Kaabi’s long-term injury.
