Maccabi Tel Aviv Target Stelios Andreou Excluded From Lodz Squad Amid Transfer Talks

Stelios Andreou, a 24-year-old Cypriot defender linked to a potential move to Maccabi Tel Aviv, was left out of Lodz's squad for their latest match in the Polish league. The league has already started, and Andreou was not included in the lineup for the opening round, where Lodz drew 2-2. Lodz coach Aleksander Vuković explained that discussions about Andreou's departure are ongoing and that the player requested not to play to avoid injury that could jeopardize a possible transfer.

Andreou joined Lodz last summer from Belgian club Charleroi for a transfer fee of 1.3 million euros. In the 2025/26 season, he made 18 league appearances and played in four domestic cup matches. Earlier this year, Belgian club Gent approached Lodz with a loan offer including a purchase option, but Lodz declined. According to Transfermarkt, Andreou's market value has dropped sharply over the past year, yet he remains a sought-after defender across Europe.

Standing 1.87 meters tall, Andreou is considered a key player for the Cyprus national team, having earned 30 caps. Before joining Lodz, he spent four years at Charleroi and began his professional career at Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus. Maccabi Tel Aviv's most expensive signing last season was Kerwin Andrade for 1.8 million euros, followed by Leo Varela at 1.7 million and Ion Nicolescu at 1.3 million euros.

The ongoing transfer talks and Andreou's absence from Lodz's squad suggest a possible imminent move to Maccabi Tel Aviv, pending final agreements.