Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade have beaten Greek giants PAOK to the signing of Ghana defender Derrick Luckassen, Footy-Africa can exclusively reveal.
The 31-year-old centre-back is expected to arrive in Belgrade on Thursday to complete the move before being officially unveiled by the club.
Luckassen will join Red Star as a free agent after leaving Cypriot side Pafos, where he spent two seasons following his arrival from Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Sources indicate the defender had already committed to joining Red Star before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, his impressive performances in the tournament attracted late interest from PAOK, who attempted to hijack the deal after his stock rose on the international stage.
The Ghana international featured twice at the World Cup and scored in the Black Stars’ group-stage clash against Croatia, further enhancing his reputation.
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Despite PAOK’s late approach, Luckassen honoured the agreement he had already reached with Red Star.
The defender is set to sign a three-year contract worth approximately €4 million in total, with an annual salary of around €1 million at the Marakana.
Luckassen’s arrival adds experience and international pedigree to Red Star’s defence as the Serbian champions prepare for another campaign in domestic competition and Europe. An official announcement is expected after he completes the remaining formalities in Belgrade.
