AEK Larnaca planning for new season amid European qualification push

AEK Larnaca is currently focused on mathematically securing their qualification for the UEFA Conference League, currently sitting in second place. The club has automatically renewed the contract of 30-year-old defender Godswill Ekpolo for the 2026-2027 season after he met his performance-based appearance criteria. Sporting director Xavi Roca is reportedly preparing for the upcoming season, with the primary challenge being the expiration of contracts for seven veteran core players aged 33 to 39, including Pere Pons, Angel Garcia, and Gustavo Ledes. While the club maintains a degree of secrecy regarding transfers until their European spot is confirmed, discussions regarding the squad's future are ongoing. President Andros Karapatakis is expected to hold a press conference to address these matters once the European qualification target is officially met. The team faces an upcoming match against APOEL at the GSP Stadium while missing several players due to injury. Preparations for the new season are anticipated to begin around mid-June, ahead of the July 21st second qualifying round.