APOEL revives Antonin Barak transfer deal

APOEL Nicosia has finalized an agreement to sign 31-year-old Czech midfielder Antonin Barak, reversing a previous decision to cancel the deal in late June 2026. Barak, who has 44 caps and 11 goals for the Czech national team, arrives in Cyprus to undergo medical examinations and sign a two-year contract extending until the summer of 2028. This move follows a series of transfers initiated after a poor start to the domestic season, including the acquisition of Croatian goalkeeper Oliver Zelenika and Spanish defender Alvaro Carrillo.

The official registration of these new players is currently delayed due to a transfer embargo imposed on the club. APOEL administration is racing against the clock to resolve this issue, which also requires cooperation from the side of Youssef El Arabi to secure clearance from FIFA. If the administrative hurdles are cleared by the Friday deadline, the players may be eligible for the upcoming match against AEL; otherwise, their debut will be postponed to the following week. The transfer window in Cyprus is set to close on September 9, 2026.