PAOK FC has officially announced the start of its partnership with 31-year-old Spanish player Baptiste Santamaría.

The announcement from PAOK

“PAOK FC announces the signing of Baptiste Santamaria. The French midfielder has signed a contract with the ‘Double-Headed Eagle’ through June 30, 2027.

Baptiste Santamaria was born on March 9, 1995, in Saint-Doular, France.

He began his soccer career in the Bourges youth academy and later joined Tours, where he made his professional debut in 2013. In 2016, he transferred to Angers, where he established himself as a key player for the team in Ligue 1, delivering outstanding performances for five consecutive seasons.

In the summer of 2020, he left France to join Freiburg. At the time, he was the most expensive signing in the German club’s history, at 10 million euros.

In January 2021, he moved to Rennes, where he played in both the French league and UEFA European competitions. During the 2023–24 season, he was loaned to Nice, gaining even more experience at the highest level of French soccer.

In the summer of 2025, he continued his career at Valencia, taking the next step in his journey to La Liga.

Santamaría has represented France’s Under-21 national team and has significant experience from more than 400 matches in top European leagues.”

*photo source: paokfc.gr