Giorgos Giakoumakis was born in Crete, Greece, on 9 December 1994 (age 31), and came through a less polished route than many centre-forwards who end up at Celtic. His early years in Greece included loan football that gave him senior minutes rather than headlines, before he began to find more substance in his game at Platanias.
His career moved properly into view at VVV-Venlo. The 2020 - 2021 season was the one that changed his standing: 26 league goals in 30 appearances for a side that needed every one of them. Celtic signed him from VVV-Venlo in August 2021 for around £2.5m, bringing in a striker whose game was direct, awkward for defenders, and not especially interested in looking elegant.
At Celtic, Giakoumakis was never a decorative player. He gave the side penalty-box aggression, useful depth, and a reliable instinct for where the ball might break. In February 2023, he left for Atlanta United in a deal worth around £4.5m. It was a clean enough exit, and one that reflected both his value and the sense that his role at Celtic had become more limited than his scoring record might have suggested.
After Celtic, he had spells with Atlanta United and Cruz Azul before his career moved on again. His wider route has taken in Platanias and now PAOK, where he is primarily used as a striker and wears the number 7 shirt. His current market value is around £6m, according to Transfermarkt.
In 2025 - 2026, Giakoumakis remains a regular first-team presence for PAOK. He has made 31 appearances in all competitions and scored 12 goals, including 7 in 22 league appearances, 1 in Europa League qualifying, and 4 more in the Europa League proper.
His career has been built on movement, productivity, and finding places where his penalty-box work still carries weight. Celtic was a significant stop rather than the whole story, and he has continued to be relevant well beyond Glasgow.
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