PAOK Thessaloniki secures loan agreement for striker Simon Banza

PAOK Thessaloniki has finalized an agreement to sign 30-year-old Congolese forward Simon Banza on loan from UAE club Al Jazira. The transfer, which faced a slight delay due to flight complications from Abu Dhabi, was confirmed after the player arrived in Thessaloniki to undergo medical examinations. The deal includes an option for PAOK to purchase Banza permanently for 4 million euros next summer. Banza is expected to earn approximately 1.7 million euros annually at his new club.

Banza joined Al Jazira in September 2025, recording 11 goals in 26 appearances, following a notable career that included stints at Lens in France, Famalicao and Braga in Portugal, and a productive 2024-25 season with Trabzonspor, where he scored 22 goals in 37 matches. The striker is now preparing to begin training under manager Alessio Lisi, with his debut expected in an upcoming Greek Cup match against Atromitos. Meanwhile, PAOK continues to monitor the transfer market to strengthen other positions, including the defensive wings, as the window nears its close.