Tzolakis proving his worth as £23m Hull City move sparks £80m valuation

Konstantinos Tzolakis is quickly showing that Hull City’s €23m investment was about more than signing an expensive goalkeeper, with his performances for club and country suggesting his value could rise to €80m or more.

The 23-year-old has emerged as one of Greece’s leading players, impressing in goal for the national team and helping Hull City overcome the demands of English football. His progress has coincided with a promising period for Greece, although Tzolakis has stood out for his displays between the posts, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

Since making his international debut in June 2024, Tzolakis has competed with Odysseas Vlachodimos for the starting position. Manager Ivan Jovanovic selected him for all four of Greece’s Nations League matches, and the goalkeeper played a major role in his side finishing top of their group and mounting a strong challenge.

Greece conceded only three goals across those four games, while Tzolakis kept two clean sheets against Germany. He made 15 saves, including eight from inside the penalty area, and prevented 1.38 expected goals, according to advanced statistics.

His performance against Germany was particularly notable, as he made five saves. However, Tzolakis credited the team rather than himself afterwards.

“It was a collective effort. We all defended for long periods, and they did not pose a major threat in the first half as they did in the second,” he said.

The goalkeeper’s international form has followed an impressive spell with Olympiacos. During his time with the club, he won four Greek league titles, two domestic cups and a domestic Super Cup, as well as the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Tzolakis was instrumental in the final against Fiorentina, making four saves, all from inside the box, and preventing 1.09 expected goals. His most important intervention came in the 69th minute, when he tipped Emmanuel Quame’s effort away from the top corner to preserve a goalless score before Olympiacos eventually secured the trophy.

Hull City investment beginning to pay off

Tzolakis joined Hull City last summer for €23m, becoming the second-most expensive player to leave Olympiacos after Kostoulas. The English club had been seeking a dependable goalkeeper capable of helping it compete in the Premier League and identified the Greece international as a player with the experience to handle pressure despite his age.

Manager Sergej Jakirovic said Tzolakis was the youngest of three goalkeepers considered by the club, but had an important advantage through his experience at Olympiacos, where he had already operated under significant pressure.

His early figures have been encouraging. He has made 17 saves, including 13 from inside the penalty area, completed six successful clearances and kept three clean sheets, according to the statistics in the report.

Tzolakis accepts that moving from the Greek league to the Premier League requires constant development because of the difference in pace, intensity and competition.

“When you move from the Greek league to the Premier League, the best league in the world, everything is different. First you have to fight for yourself, then develop your skills,” he told the BBC.

He added that keeping seven or eight clean sheets had been set as a target to help Hull City remain in the Premier League.

In Hull City’s most recent match at St James’ Park, Tzolakis saved a penalty from Yoane Wissa but could not prevent his team suffering their first defeat of the season.

Even so, his performances have led Jakirovic to predict a significant rise in his market value, potentially to €60m, €70m or even €80m.