Diego Costa is now officially a PAOK player!

On Saturday night (September 5), the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” announced the one-year loan of the 27-year-old Brazilian center back from Krasnodar, with the Thessaloniki club retaining an eight-million-euro buyout clause for next summer.

The announcement in full:

“PAOK FC announces the signing of Diego Costa from Krasnodar on a one-year loan with an option to buy. The Brazilian defender will wear the No. 19 jersey.

Diego Henrique Costa Barbosa was born on July 21, 1999, in Campo Grande, Brazil, and plays as a center back.

He began his soccer career at a young age and in 2015 joined the São Paulo academy, where he made his professional debut in December 2019. He gradually established himself on the first team, even taking on the role of captain, and was a key player for São Paulo on their path to winning the 2023 Brazilian Cup.

In July 2024, he transferred to Krasnodar, became a key member of their defense, and helped the team win the Russian championship in the 2024–25 season— the first in the club’s history.

Wearing the Krasnodar jersey, Diego Costa has scored four goals in 71 appearances, while with São Paulo he played in 161 games, scoring five times.

So far in his career, he has won a Brazilian Cup, a Brazilian Super Cup, a Russian championship, and the Paulistao in the state of São Paulo.

“Welcome, Diego!”

*photo source: paokfc.gr