Simon Banza joins PAOK Salonique on loan from Al-Jazira

Simon Banza has officially joined PAOK Salonique on loan from Al-Jazira, with the Greek club holding an option to buy the Democratic Republic of the Congo international for 6 million euros.

The 28-year-old striker had attracted interest from CSKA Moscow, although that move did not progress because of the geopolitical context. Botafogo and OGC Nice had also been monitoring the former RC Lens and Braga forward.

Banza is now set to play in the sixth different league of his professional career after agreeing to move to Greece.

PAOK Salonique are signing a striker with a strong record from his previous campaigns. During a loan spell at Trabzonspor last season, Banza scored 22 goals and supplied seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.

The Salonique club have made the forward a central part of their plans for the upcoming campaign.