YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT THIS £20M STAR JUST SAID ABOUT NEWCASTLE – HE’S DESPERATE TO MAKE A SHOCK RETURN TO HIS “FANTASTIC” CLUB!
Newcastle United shot-stopper Odysseas Vlachodimos is spending the season on loan with Sevilla.
Odysseas Vlachodimos has no intention of walking away from his Newcastle United ambitions, despite a difficult start to life on Tyneside.
The Greece international arrived from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2024 as part of a controversial deal driven by profit and sustainability considerations, which saw academy graduate Elliot Anderson move in the opposite direction.
Forest paid £35 million for Anderson, while Newcastle spent a reported £20 million to secure Vlachodimos’ services.
That fee made him the most expensive goalkeeper in the club’s history, yet opportunities on the pitch have been extremely limited, with just a single appearance to his name.
During his first season at St James’ Park, Vlachodimos found himself third in the pecking order behind Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka.
Although Dubravka departed in the summer, Newcastle opted to bring in Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton, further restricting the Greek goalkeeper’s chances.
In search of regular minutes, Vlachodimos agreed to a season-long loan move to Sevilla.
Reflecting on his Newcastle spell, the 31-year-old admitted it was a challenging period.
Speaking to the iPaper, he acknowledged feeling frustrated by the lack of game time, especially given his previous experience playing consistently at club and international level, including in the Champions League.
Vlachodimos revealed he arrived in England with high expectations and ambitions that ultimately were not fulfilled.
While the situation was disappointing, he believes the experience helped him grow, allowing him to remain focused, train hard, and develop mentally during a rare spell on the sidelines.
He also hinted that the promises made before his move did not fully materialise, suggesting the reasons for that would be better explained by others.
Prior to joining Newcastle, Vlachodimos had built a strong reputation during his time at Benfica, and his loan switch to Spain has allowed him to rediscover that form.
Despite Sevilla enduring an inconsistent campaign and currently sitting mid-table in La Liga, the goalkeeper’s individual performances have stood out.
Statistically, he ranks among the best in Europe’s top five leagues for expected goals conceded, and his stunning save to deny Rodrygo at the Santiago Bernabéu recently drew widespread praise.
Whether those displays earn him another opportunity at Newcastle remains to be seen, but Vlachodimos is open to returning.
He has spoken warmly about the club, the city, and the supporters, saying he and his family settled quickly and felt welcome from day one.
While he remains realistic about the uncertainty ahead, his desire is clear: to return to Newcastle, play regularly, and make a meaningful impact on the pitch.
