Anthony Martial was given a rapturous welcome by fanatical AEK Athens supporters as he landed in the Greek capital on Wednesday night.
Martial, 28, is a free agent after leaving Manchester United and is understood to have agreed a three year contract with AEK who finished second in the Greek Super League last season.
Greek giants announced the signing of the Frenchman earlier on Wednesday, writing in a post on X that the ‘wizard is coming’.
They also informed their supporters that he would be arriving at the Athens International Airport at 8.40pm, allowing many of them to give him a passionate welcome.
Martial had previously been linked with a host of clubs – including Flamengo in Brazil – but is now set to play his football in the Super League in Greece.
Martial, who has not played since December 9, 2023, will hope to re-ignite his career after a number of tough seasons at Old Trafford where he struggled for both form and fitness
Thousands of AEK fans made their voices heard at Athens International Airport after the club had informed them of the time of Martial arrival
SPORT24 previously reported that he was exchanging final documents with the club over a three-year deal.
Martial is said to be in line to earn £2.5million per season with AEK and the deal would have been announced on Monday night if not for a delay, as per SPORT24.
That deal, amounting to £7.5m in total including bonuses, would be the most lucrative in AEK’s history.
The three-year guarantee will have been persuasive as Martial’s talks with Flamengo reportedly broke down due to his insistence on that contract length.
Martial has been keeping himself fit over the summer, posting a photo of himself on an exercise bike, holidaying with his family, and going on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, writing on Instagram: ‘Thank you Lord for everything.’
AEK announced the shock signing of the 28-year-old France international earlier on Wednesday
AEK Athens boast a handful of former Premier League stars in their current squad
Martial has been keeping himself fit over the summer and taking time out with his family
He had been linked with a host of European clubs including Lille, Atalanta, Marseille and Besiktas.
At AEK Athens, he will link up with ex-Tottenham star Erik Lamela, former Watford players Roberto Pereyra and Nordin Amrabat, as well as ex-Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.
Lamela was reportedly the club’s top earner currently on a deal worth a reported €2million (£1.7million) per year.
Despite AEK busting the bank, Martial would be taking a sizeable pay cut from his terms at Manchester United, having been on £250,000 per week at Old Trafford.
Martial failed to live up to expectations after establishing himself as one of the most exciting prospects in world football when he joined Manchester United in 2015.
During his nine years at Old Trafford, he went on to make 317 appearances and scored 90 goals.
He made 19 appearances during his final season with the Red Devils, but has not played a single game since a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on December 9.
Martial was regarded as one of the most exciting young players in the world when he joined United in 2015, but failed to live up to expectations – scoring 90 goals in 317 appearances
AEK Athens are the third most successful team in Greece behind Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
They are currently top of the Greek Super League with three wins and a draw from their opening four games, though they were knocked out of the Europa Conference League with a 3-2 aggregate loss to Armenian side Noah.
