Goalkeepers who get squeezed out at a Premier League club usually drift. Odysseas Vlachodimos didn't. Stuck behind Nick Pope at Newcastle, he took a loan to Sevilla in August 2025 and walked straight into the number 1 shirt. A season later the Spanish club reportedly wants him around until 2027, and he's still the man Greece trusts between the posts. For a 32 year old whose market value peaked years ago, that's a decent place to be.
His career has been unusual from the start. He was born in Germany, wore the German badge all through youth football, and then picked another country entirely. That decision says a lot about him.
The file on Vlachodimos
| Full name | Odysseas Vlachodimos |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 April 1994, Stuttgart, Germany (age 32) |
| Nationality | Greek and German |
| Height and weight | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in), about 78 kg |
| Position and foot | Goalkeeper, right footed |
| Club | Sevilla FC, on loan from Newcastle United |
| Shirt number | 1 |
| International team | Greece (53 or more senior caps) |
| Market value | Estimated at 2.3 million to 3 million euros |
| Net worth | Icon Polls estimate: $10 million to $13 million |
| Agent | fair-sport GmbH |
| Family | Brother Panagiotis Vlachodimos, a retired footballer |
A Stuttgart kid with a Greek surname
Vlachodimos was born to Greek parents in Stuttgart and started out at VfL Wangen before VfB Stuttgart took him into their academy at the age of seven. That's one of Germany's better finishing schools for young players, and he moved up through it properly: reserve team football from 2012 to 2015, then a brief look at the first team in 2015/16.
The breakthrough just didn't come in Stuttgart. In January 2016 he left for Panathinaikos, and over two seasons in Athens he played more than 50 matches. That spell got him noticed by bigger clubs.
Lisbon is where he became a real number 1
Benfica signed him in 2018, and this is the part of his career that will last. He made more than 225 appearances for the club, played 32 Champions League matches and won two Primeira Liga titles. Plenty of keepers pass through a club like Benfica. Few stay first choice for five seasons.
The years since have been less settled. He joined Nottingham Forest in 2023, moved to Newcastle United in 2024 and was part of the squad that won the EFL Cup, but he wasn't the first choice at St James' Park. A loan was the sensible move, and Sevilla were the right club for it.
Sevilla's season, in numbers
These are his reported La Liga figures for 2025/26:
- Matches: 33 (2,970 minutes)
- Saves: 88, for a save percentage of about 66.4%
- Goals conceded: 52, or 1.58 per 90 minutes
- Clean sheets: about 4
- Yellow cards: 2
- Average FotMob rating: 6.79
Read those figures honestly and they're mixed. A save rate in the mid 60s is respectable rather than outstanding. Fifty two goals conceded and only a handful of clean sheets say more about a Sevilla side that left him exposed too often than about any collapse in his own level. A 6.79 average rating fits that: reliable, rarely the problem, rarely the hero.
Scouting reports have praised the same things for years. He handles long range shots well and stays focused through a match. The usual criticisms are claiming crosses and dealing with close range finishes, which is a little surprising for a keeper of 1.91 metres. Across his career he has made more than 406 appearances, and that experience shows in how calm he is.
Why he said yes to Greece
He played for Germany at under 15, under 16, under 17, under 18, under 19, under 20 and under 21 level. He was also in the squad that won the 2017 European Under 21 Championship, although he was the backup keeper. Most players with that background wait for the senior call.
He didn't. In 2018 he switched to Greece, his parents' country, and made his senior debut in a 1 to 0 win over Finland that November. He has since passed 53 caps. He has spoken about how much his Greek heritage means to him, and it's hard to argue with the choice. Instead of competing for a third choice spot with Germany, he became Greece's established number 1. He speaks German, Greek and English fluently.
Salary, net worth and a falling price tag
None of these figures are officially disclosed, so treat them as estimates. His Sevilla salary is reported at around 3 million euros a year, roughly 58,000 euros a week. At Newcastle he reportedly earned about 50,000 pounds a week, and in his final Benfica years his salary was put at around 1.2 million euros a year.
Add more than a decade of wages in four countries, plus equipment deals (Uhlsport is reported as his current glove sponsor, with Adidas in the past), and Icon Polls estimates his net worth at $10 million to $13 million in 2026.
His transfer value is a different story. During the Benfica years it was reportedly as high as 15 million euros. Today estimates sit between 2.3 million and 3 million euros. That fall is mostly about age. Keepers can play well into their thirties, but the market still marks them down for every birthday. In FC 26, for what it's worth, he's rated 77 overall.
The contract puzzle
Reports differ on the details. His Newcastle deal is widely reported to run until June 2028, and Sevilla are said to have extended the loan through June 2027. If that's right, his future is settled for now. The more interesting question is what happens after that. A permanent move to Spain, or a return to England in his mid thirties? The way this season went makes the first option look more likely.
Off the pitch he keeps a low profile and says little publicly about his private life. His brother Panagiotis also played professionally before retiring, and Odysseas has described himself as Greek Orthodox.
Where does a career like this rank against football's all time greats? It doesn't, honestly, but these debates are half the fun. Have your say in our vote for the best football players of all time.
Three things people ask
Is Vlachodimos German or Greek?
Both. He was born in Stuttgart to Greek parents and holds dual nationality, but he has represented Greece at senior level since 2018.
What trophies has he won?
Two Primeira Liga titles with Benfica, the EFL Cup with Newcastle United, and the 2017 European Under 21 Championship with Germany, where he was the backup keeper.
Who owns him right now?
Newcastle United. He plays for Sevilla on loan, with that deal reported to run until mid 2027.
