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Galatasaray have completed the signing of Greece captain Eleni Markou following the midfielder’s season with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Frauen-Bundesliga. The 31-year-old arrives with more than 70 international appearances and experience in Greece, the United States, Cyprus, Germany and Switzerland. Galatasaray have not disclosed the length of Markou’s contract or whether a transfer fee was involved. Her arrival gives the Turkish side an experienced midfielder who has repeatedly contributed to successful teams. Markou won 10 domestic trophies during her first spell with PAOK, later became a Swiss champion with FC Zürich and helped Union Berlin earn promotion to the German top flight. Transfer Snapshot - Player: Eleni Markou - Age: 31 - Position: Midfielder - New club: Galatasaray - Previous club: Eintracht Frankfurt - Contract length: Not disclosed - International team: Greece - International record: More than 70 appearances and 10 goals - International role: Captain - Major honours: Five Greek league titles, five Greek Cups and one Swiss championship - Recent achievement: 2. Bundesliga title and promotion with Union Berlin Galatasaray Add Proven Winning Experience Eleni Markou began her professional career with PAOK and was part of a dominant period for the club, winning five Greek league titles and five Greek Cups. She moved to the United States in 2016 to combine football with her education and represented Monroe Community College. Her performances earned her the NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Player of the Year award. Further moves followed with Apollon Ladies, SGS Essen and FC Basel before she joined FC Zürich. Markou won the Swiss championship with Zürich during the 2022/23 season, adding another league title outside her home country. Her career then took her back to Germany with Union Berlin in 2024. Markou helped Union win the 2024/25 2. Bundesliga title and secure promotion to the Frauen-Bundesliga. She subsequently joined Eintracht Frankfurt and competed in Germany’s top division during the 2025/26 campaign. That record gives Galatasaray a player familiar with different tactical environments and the pressure attached to teams expected to win. Leadership for Club and Country Eleni Markou’s importance extends beyond her club experience. The midfielder captains Greece and has made more than 70 appearances for the national team, scoring 10 goals. Her international role demonstrates the responsibility she is accustomed to carrying both on and off the pitch. Galatasaray will expect that leadership to help a squad with significant domestic ambitions. Markou’s experience should also give the team greater control in midfield. She has played in technically and physically different competitions, adapting to several countries without losing her place at international level. Her arrival is therefore not simply an attempt to add another recognisable name. Galatasaray are bringing in a player who has experienced title races, promotion campaigns and major transitions between leagues. Markou Arrives With Clear Expectations Markou described herself as an ambitious and success-focused player after completing the move. “I am here for a reason,” she said. “I am here to do my job one hundred per cent. I cannot wait to start working as soon as possible.” That mentality fits the pattern of her career. From PAOK’s domestic dominance to Zürich’s Swiss title and Union Berlin’s promotion, Markou has regularly found herself inside teams pursuing concrete objectives. Her most recent season at Frankfurt added top-flight German experience, but Galatasaray should offer a different kind of responsibility. The Turkish club will expect her to become an influential midfielder rather than simply an experienced squad option. At 31, Markou arrives with little need for an extended education in senior football. The question is how quickly she can translate her experience into authority within a new team and another domestic competition. Galatasaray have signed a player who knows what successful seasons require. Markou’s task is to help create another one in Istanbul. Source: Galatasaray