Aris Thessaloniki set to sign striker Rafa Mir

Aris Thessaloniki is finalizing the transfer of 29-year-old Spanish forward Rafa Mir from Sevilla. Following a loan spell at Elche, where he recorded eight goals in 27 La Liga appearances, the player is expected to arrive in Greece shortly to complete his move to the team managed by Michalis Grigoriou.

The transfer comes amidst a significant legal background. In September 2024, Mir was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison, comprising seven years for sexual assault and 1.5 years for causing bodily harm. Despite this conviction, the player has filed an appeal and recently secured authorization from the Valencia Court to travel and play abroad. As a condition of this permit, Mir is required to report to the Spanish consulate in Thessaloniki once every month.

Sevilla FC, which had excluded the player from its pre-season preparations, is moving to clear his salary from the squad. Aris has reached an agreement with both the club and the player, marking a major development in the Greek team's roster strategy for the upcoming season.