Derrick Luckassen joins Red Star Belgrade on three-year deal after Pafos exit

Ghana defender Derrick Luckassen has completed a free transfer to Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade after ending his two-year spell with Cypriot club Pafos FC.

The experienced centre-back has signed a three-year contract with the Belgrade giants as they strengthen their squad ahead of the 2026/27 season and their upcoming European campaign.

Luckassen, 31, joins Red Star after playing a key role at Pafos, where he established himself as a reliable figure in defence following his arrival from Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Dutch-born Ghana international also enhanced his profile during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he featured twice for the Black Stars and scored Ghana’s goal in their group-stage encounter against Croatia.

His performances at the global tournament attracted attention, but Red Star acted quickly to secure his services, beating competition from other interested clubs.

The move sees Luckassen add Serbia to a career that has taken him across several leagues, including the Netherlands, England, Turkey, Israel and Cyprus, bringing valuable experience to Red Star’s defensive unit.

He is expected to link up with his new teammates immediately as the club begins preparations for the new campaign, with Red Star targeting another domestic title success and a strong showing in European competitions.