Giannis Papanikolaou

Following his move to Widzew Łódź, Papanikolaou's current-season form is level with last season (Season 23→22), while his Rating eased 38→29. His peak season for form remains 2022/23 (Season 27).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Widzew Łódź · 9th	1	0	6.9	29	22
2025/26	Rizespor · 8th	30	1	6.57	38	23
2024/25	Rizespor · 9th	22	0	6.75	43	15
2023/24	Raków Częstochowa · 7th	15	5	6.92	36	16
2022/23	Raków Częstochowa · 1st	30	1	6.93	41	27

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 6 earlier seasons in the full career.

Greece · international

Side	Apps	G
Greece	4	0
Greece U21	10	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerDefensive midfielder

G. Papanikolaou is a 27-year-old defensive midfielder at Rizespor, rated 38 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (60.3% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.86 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Papanikolaou.

On the season, Papanikolaou graded 23 for current form (age-blind), on 1 goal, 0 assists and 3.856 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 23 → 22). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2022/23.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 38. At 27 Papanikolaou is in his prime years, and a market index of 8.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2022/23 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2022/23Holding levelRemarkably consistent

Ratingi

developing / rotation level

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

60.3%

Minutes

a regular starter

3.86

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Rizespor finished 8th of 18 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.86

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.86 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 5 clean sheets across 30 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 60.3% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 3.86 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 38 overall — developing / rotation level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.86 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %60.3%

Available fixtures34 of 34

Goals / 900.049

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.049

Defensive actions / 903.856

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.342

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around age 27 (~9), then tapers with age. At 27, Papanikolaou sits on 8.8, at or near its peak. The blue line is Papanikolaou's projected Rating — 38 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Ekstraklasa with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles50

Interceptions23

Blocks6

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards1

Transfer history

€2.2M total transfer fees · 4 moves

Widzew ŁódźJun 2026 – nowFree

RizesporJun 2024 – Jun 2026€ 2.2M

Raków CzęstochowaAug 2020 – Jun 2024Free

PPanioniosJul 2019 – Aug 2020Free

PPlataniasuntil Jul 2019

About G. Papanikolaou

Giannis Papanikolaou is a 27-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Widzew Łódź, born on November 18, 1998 in Marousi, standing 182 cm tall. He is from Greece. Widzew Łódź currently sit 9th of 18 in the Ekstraklasa.

This season

In the current season, G. Papanikolaou has made 1 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 24 minutes, averaging a 6.9 match rating over his last 1 rated games, with 1 yellow card.

Recent matches

July 31, 2026: 0-0 draw away at Wisla Plock (24 minutes, 6.9 rating)

G. Papanikolaou's next match is on August 30, 2026, when Widzew Łódź face Lech Poznan at home in the Ekstraklasa.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates G. Papanikolaou at 38 with a Season form score of 23. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 8 career titles — among them the Ekstraklasa and the Super Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 11 recorded seasons, G. Papanikolaou has totalled 191 club appearances with 11 goals and 4 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2019/20, with 30 appearances for Panionios.

G. Papanikolaou's career has also included time at Rizespor, Raków Częstochowa, PPanionios and PPlatanias.

On the international stage, G. Papanikolaou has represented Greece and Greece U21 — 14 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.