Dani Garcia leaves Olympiacos on free transfer to join Atromitos on one-year deal

Departure from Olympiacos and agreement with Atromitos

Spanish defensive midfielder Dani Garcia has parted ways with Olympiacos after negotiating a mutual release from his contract, opening the door for an immediate move to fellow Super League Greece club Atromitos. The 36-year-old player reached terms on a one-year contract with the Peristeri-based club on 20 September 2026. His departure materialized following direct discussions with Olympiacos head coach Imanol Alguacil. The Basque manager informed Garcia that he was outside the first-team tactical setup for the 2026–2027 season. Presented with the choice between continuing with the club's reserve side, Olympiacos B, or securing an immediate free transfer, Garcia elected to sever ties with the Piraeus club to maintain his career in top-flight competition.

Diminishing role under new management

The separation comes three months after Garcia committed his immediate future to Olympiacos by signing a contract extension through to 2027 in June 2026. The midfielder had previously operated under head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar at Olympiacos, but his opportunities narrowed sharply following the managerial arrival of Alguacil. Throughout the start of the 2026–2027 campaign, the Spanish midfielder recorded only three appearances in all competitions. Two of those outings came in the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase against Dutch club NEC Nijmegen, alongside a solitary domestic Super League match away to Volos. Garcia was subsequently left out of the matchday squad for the league fixture against Levadiakos on 20 September 2026 at 17:00, prompting the final resolution regarding his exit.

Silverware and overall record in Piraeus

Garcia's time with Olympiacos concludes after a two-season tenure that started when he arrived as a free agent from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2024. Across all domestic and European competitions, the 1.80-metre midfielder made 72 appearances for the Piraeus club, contributing one goal and two assists. His period in the red-and-white shirt was marked by silverware, beginning with the Greek domestic double of the Super League title and the Greek Cup in 2025. Garcia followed that campaign by securing the Greek Super Cup with Olympiacos in 2026 before entering his final months at the Karaiskakis Stadium.

Background in Spain and role at Atromitos

Prior to his spell in Greece, Garcia built an extensive career in Spanish football, featuring most prominently for Athletic Bilbao. With the Basque side, he won the Spanish Supercopa in 2021 and added the Copa del Rey to his honours list in 2024 prior to his move abroad. Atromitos moved quickly to negotiate with the free agent, identifying him as the experienced midfielder needed to bolster their central line. The Peristeri outfit concluded talks for a one-year contract to integrate the Spanish veteran directly into their midfield setup for the 2026–2027 Super League season.