Charisteas added to Ajax attack
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Article summary
Angelos Charisteas, the scorer of the winning goal for Greece at UEFA EURO 2004™, has joined AFC Ajax.
Article body
Bremen honours
The 24-year-old striker underwent a medical on Thursday and has signed a contract with the Dutch champions running until 30 June 2008. He joined Bremen from FC Aris Thessaloniki in summer 2002 and last season helped them to the German domestic double. He has won 38 Greek caps, having taken just two minutes to score on his debut against Russia, and in July claimed the only goal in the UEFA European Championship final against Portugal in Lisbon.
Cup tied
However, this season he has been used mostly as a substitute for Bremen, but appeared in five of their UEFA Champions League Group G games. That leaves him ineligible for Ajax's UEFA Cup campaign next spring, which begins with a two-legged tie against AJ Auxerre in February.
'Fantastic club'
Charisteas said: "Ajax are a step up in my career. They are a top European side, and I want to win as many prizes as possible with them in the next three-and-a-half years. I spoke to Ioannis Anastasiou [Ajax's Greek striker] and Petri Pasanen [Bremen's ex-Ajax player] and they told me that Ajax are a fantastic club to play for."
