AEK Athens Signs Croatian Midfielder Mayr With Salary Over Twice That of Kings Kangwa

AEK Athens has secured Croatian national team midfielder Lovro Mayr as a replacement for Kings Kangwa from Hapoel Be'er Sheva, after failing to complete the deal for Kangwa. Mayr, who played last season for Wolfsburg, is set to undergo medical tests in Amsterdam before signing a four-year contract with AEK. According to German media and Sky Sports journalist Dennis Bayer, Mayr will earn a net annual salary of 2 million euros, more than double the 600,000 to 750,000 euros Kangwa is expected to receive at Panathinaikos, where AEK had offered Kangwa 700,000 euros before the deal collapsed.

Mayr's transfer fee is reported at 6 million euros, making him the second most expensive signing in AEK Athens' history. This surpasses the transfer of Livai Garcia from Beitar Jerusalem, who was the eighth most expensive at 5.9 million euros. Another notable player, Frenkie Pierrot from Maccabi Haifa, is ranked ninth in AEK's transfer records. The move highlights AEK's ambition to strengthen their squad with high-profile players following the unsuccessful attempt to sign Kangwa.