Barça's Afellay joins Olympiacos on loan

Olympiacos FC have strengthened with the acquisition of FC Barcelona's Dutch winger Ibrahim Afellay on loan for the 2014/15 season.

The 28-year-old joins the Greek champions as they prepare to begin the defence of their league title on 24 August against Niki Volos, before entering the UEFA Champions League at the group stage.

"Olympiacos are a big club, they always aim to win silverware and I am very happy to join them," said the former PSV Eindhoven man, who has won 44 caps for the Netherlands. "I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and training with them. Seeing the fans wait for me at the airport was very pleasing and I cannot wait for the season to start. Hopefully we will achieve great things."

Heavily involved as PSV won four successive Dutch titles from 2004/05 to 2007/08, he moved to Barcelona during the 2010/11 season and ended the campaign with a cameo in the victorious UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United FC.

Since being ruled out for almost seven months in autumn 2011, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, he has struggled to earn a regular place with the Catalan club, and spent 2012/13 on loan at FC Schalke 04. A thigh injury restricted his participation at the Camp Nou last season to just one Liga appearance.