Bournemouth have finalized the acquisition of Greek goalkeeper Christos Mandas on a season-long loan from Italian Serie A outfit Lazio, boosting their squad in the closing stages of the January transfer window.
The 24-year-old shot-stopper will remain at the Vitality Stadium until the end of the campaign, with the agreement containing an option for a permanent transfer when the season concludes.
As part of the deal, Bournemouth will pay a €1.5 million loan fee, equivalent to approximately £1.3 million. Should the club decide against activating the permanent clause, an additional £860,000 will be payable. However, if Bournemouth choose to retain Mandas permanently, the total transfer fee will amount to £16 million.
Mandas becomes the first Greek footballer in Bournemouth’s history. He arrives with solid experience, having featured 33 times for Lazio since joining from OFI and earning two senior international caps for Greece.
Reacting to his move, Mandas expressed his excitement, saying that Bournemouth’s interest made the decision an easy one.
“Once I heard about Bournemouth’s interest, I was eager to come. There is a special connection between the supporters and the players, and I admire the team’s style of play. It feels like the perfect fit,” he said.
Bournemouth’s head of football operations, Tiago Pinto, believes the goalkeeper will bring stability and leadership to the team as he continues to grow.
“We’re confident he will have a positive influence, offering calmness and maturity while progressing further in his development,” Pinto stated.
Mandas is the second goalkeeper to join Bournemouth this month, following the arrival of Fraser Forster. The 37-year-old signed a six-month contract after previous spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Aston Villa have reopened talks over a potential loan move to bring Douglas Luiz back to the club. The Brazilian midfielder is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus, but could exit before the transfer deadline on Monday.
Chelsea are also keeping a close eye on the situation, although sources close to Luiz suggest his preference is a return to Villa Park.
Luiz previously spent five successful years at Aston Villa, making 204 appearances between 2019 and 2024, before securing a £42.5 million transfer to Juventus last June as Villa sought to comply with profit and sustainability regulations.
However, his stint in Italy was short-lived, managing only three Serie A starts before moving to Nottingham Forest in August 2025. Although his loan agreement includes an obligation to buy based on appearances, that condition has not yet been met.
Villa boss Unai Emery is eager to reinforce his midfield due to mounting injury concerns. John McGinn, the club captain, is expected to be sidelined for up to two months with a knee injury, while Boubacar Kamara is likely to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a serious knee setback.
Earlier this month, Villa had attempted to sign Conor Gallagher, but the England international opted for a £35 million move to Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid.
Despite these challenges, Aston Villa continue to shine in the Premier League. They currently occupy third position, trailing league leaders Arsenal by four points, and have already secured qualification for the Europa League last 16 with one league-phase match still remaining.
In addition, Villa are edging closer to sealing the signing of striker Tammy Abraham, with the deal expected to be finalized shortly.
The 28-year-old forward recently completed a medical in the UK after Besiktas triggered an £11.2 million purchase option from Roma, clearing the path for an £18 million return to English football.
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