St Pauli's Saliakis extends deal in boost to promoted side

Greece defender Manolis Saliakas has extended his contract at Bundesliga newboys St Pauli, the Hamburg-based club said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old is staying put for their first year back in the Bundesliga since 2011, although the length of the deal has not been announced.

"Over the past two years, Manolis has absolutely fulfilled the expectations we had of him when we signed him," head of sport Andreas Bornemann said.

Saliakas joined the club in 2022 from then Greek top-flight side PAS Giannina and has become a regular.

St Pauli suffered a blow after promotion with coach Fabian Hürzeler leaving for Brighton in the English Premier League. He was replaced by fellow German Alexander Blessin, who won the Belgian Cup last term and finished top of the regular league season with Union Saint-Gilloise.