Goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino has joined Olympiacos, the club have confirmed.

The 21-year-old returns to his home country with the club and has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Greek side, signing for a fee of around €2 million from Germany's FSV Mainz 05, a figure reported by SportDay newspaper.

Kapino excited about the move

Speaking to Olympiacos' website, Kapino revealed that he is "happy" to become "a member of [the club's] family". 

Having grown up in Piraeus, where the record 42-time Greek champions are based, the goalkeeper said that "everyone knows what this club means to [him]" as a result, as well as what it "generally means to Greek sports."

Kapino has endured a tough time with Mainz since joining them last summer, playing just two games in the Bundesliga as he struggled to establish himself as the team's first choice stopper. However, he is determined to become Olympiacos' number one 'keeper, telling their website that he "will do everything in [his] power" to achieve this.

Kapino added that he is "happy" that he will be "surrounded by great players," as well as the fact that he will be coached by Alekos Rantos, who played in between the sticks for the club in the late 1990s, calling the coach "a teacher" and someone who "will definitely help [him] become a better goalkeeper."

The stopper concluded his interview with the reigning Greek champions by thanking the club for "their trust" in him, and admitted that he is "look[ing] forward to working with [his new] teammates," as well as "doing [his] best to help the club achieve all [their] goals."

Potential controversy

In the 21-year-old, Olympiacos have signed a young, promising player who already has three senior caps to his name for Greece. The move may bring with it some controversy given that Kapino previously played for Olympiacos' biggest rivals, Panathinaikos, coming through their youth ranks to make 45 appearances for the club before moving to Germany last year, albeit this will not be as contentious given that the move was not directly between the two clubs.