1. FC Union Berlin has signed midfielder Eleni Markou. The 29-year-old most recently played for FC Basel and has been a fixture in the Greek national team for several years.

From Greek champions to playing abroad

Eleni Markou began her football career at PAOK, one of Greece’s most successful clubs, where she won the Greek Championship and Cup five times. In 2016, she spent a year at Monroe Community College in the USA before returning to Thessaloniki. She moved to Apollon L.F.C. in Cyprus for the 2019/20 season.

After a year on the Mediterranean island, Markou moved to Germany to join SGS Essen. After 19 Bundesliga matches and a season in the German top division, the Greek player moved to Switzerland, where she has played a total of 60 matches across all competitions for FC Basel and FC Zurich over the last three years. She won the Swiss championship in the 2022/23 season.

In addition to numerous appearances in various European leagues, Markou also has extensive international experience. She has played eight matches in the UEFA Women’'s Champions League and a further 18 qualifying matches with PAOK and FC Zurich. Markou has played 42 international matches for the Greek national team, scoring five goals.

Three facts about Eleni Markou

• Markou has already played with Maria Cristina Lange at Essen and with Athanasia Moraitou in the Greek national team. - Just last Tuesday, she and Athanasia Moraitou played 73 minutes on the pitch and won the European Championship qualifier against Montenegro.
• Markou scored her first Bundesliga goal in the 87th minute of Essen’s 3–1 win against Bremen. One minute earlier, she had come on as a substitute for Maria Cristina Lange, who had prepared the 1–0.
• Markou doesn’t like to talk about herself, but describes her style of play as instinctive and aggressive.

Comments on the transfer

‘I’m looking forward to joining Union and the good standard in the second-highest division in Germany. After my first experience in the Bundesliga, I will do everything I can to ensure that we can compete with the best as quickly as possible and fulfil our dream of playing in the Bundesliga together. I’'ve already heard a lot about the team and the club from Nasi and Nina and I can hardly wait to get to know everyone on the pitch,’ said Eleni Markou about her new challenge at 1. FC Union Berlin.

‘In Eleni, we’re getting a player who brings a lot of experience with her. She has already demonstrated her qualities in Germany and in international competitions. With her professional attitude and physical presence, she will bring additional stability to our team,’ said a delighted Jennifer Zietz, Managing Director of Women’s Professional Football, about the signing of the Greek international.