Lucas Villafáñez joins Athens Kallithea FC

Athens Kallithea FC announce the acquisition of Argentinian attacking midfielder Lucas Villafáñez, 34, following the expiration of his contract with Kifisia.

Villafáñez is best known for his time with Panathinaikos, where he made 134 appearances over six seasons and won the Greek Cup in 2021/22, and he has since won the Cypriot league with APOEL in 2023/24 and a Super League promotion with Kifisia in 2024/25.

Born in Comodoro, Villafáñez began his career at local club CAI, before earning a move to Independiente, making his debut in Argentina’s Primera División and scoring his first league goal against Boca Juniors by the age of 19. After 36 appearances and two goals in his first two years at Independiente, Villafáñez went on loan to Huracán and was a member of the team that won the Copa Argentina in 2013/14.

Villafáñez would arrive in Greece in August 2014, making a loan move to Panetolikos and scoring 12 goals with five assists in 40 appearances over a season-and-a-half, which compelled Panathinaikos to acquire Villafáñez from Independiente on a permanent transfer in January 2016.

Villafáñez would establish himself as a key player for Panathinakos, making 73 appearances with 10 goals and 13 assists in his first stint with the club, until he was sold to Turkish Süper Lig club Alanyaspor in January 2018. After two productive seasons in Turkey and another season in Mexico with Atlético Morelia, Villafáñez would return to Panathinaikos in July 2020, making 61 appearances with three goals and six assists over the next two seasons, and helping the club win the Greek Cup in 2021/22.

After Panathinaikos, Villafáñez would move to Cyprus with APOEL, making 62 appearances with four goals and nine assists over two seasons, and winning the Cypriot league in 2023/24.

Villafáñez returned to Greece with Volos in July 2024, spending a half-season with Volos and then joining Kifisia mid-season, helping the club earn promotion back to the Super League in 2024/25. He made 13 total appearances with one assist for the club last season.

Welcome, Lucas.