Cardiff City sign Greece midfielder after Trabzonspor exit

Cardiff City have signed Greece international defensive midfielder Manolis Siopis on a three-year deal.

Siopis, 29, was available on a free transfer after leaving Turkish club Trabzonspor.

Cardiff are also reportedly keen on signing Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Runarsson on a season-long loan.

“He’s a fighter, who will work hard for the team,” said Cardiff manger Erol Bulut, who worked with Siopis at former club Alanyaspor.

“The fans will like him and in the last few years, he has increased his technical skills with the ball.”

Siopis started his career with Greek giants Olympiacos and was twice named in the Greece Super League team of the year. He also won the Turkish Super League and Super Cup with Trabzonspor.

Siopis’ last competitive game was Greece’s Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June, which they lost 1-0 at the Stade de France.

“Normally, a player like Manolis, when you try to take him, you can’t take him,” Bulut added.

“It’s really difficult to get a player like this. I brought him to Alanyaspor and he took a really big step to Trabzonspor. When we saw that he became available, we contacted him and we have a really good relationship.”

The Bluebirds are under a transfer embargo until next January which means they are only able to sign players on free transfers or loans.

Siopis becomes the Championship club’s seventh signing this summer and Bulut has said he wants further additions before the transfer window shuts on 1 September.

“I know Erol Bulut very well. We worked together, and he wants to win every time. I also work like this all of my career,” Siopis said.

“I have seen the stadium, and I cannot wait to play with our supporters. They will see what I can do on the field.”

Asked about links with Runarsson, Bulut said: “Well they also say he is close to Cardiff because he was at Alanyaspor. He had a good season there.

“I was at Gaziantep [at the time]. We are looking because we have only two [goalkeepers] and we need three. There are others too we are looking at.”

Meanwhile, former Cardiff striker Sory Kaba has joined La Liga side Las Palmas on a four-year deal.

Kaba, 28, scored eight goals in 17 appearances after joining Cardiff on loan last January and had been linked with a return to the Championship.

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