Attiku clinches lucrative Greece deal

Ghana midfielder Ibrahim Atiku has joined Greek side Ethnikos Piraeus after leaving the Swedish league, Ghanasoccernet can exclusively reveal.

The 26-year-old signed a one-and-a-half year deal with the second tier side on Friday as a free agent.

The former Ghana U-17 international turned down a new offer from his Swedish club Vasalund IF as he was seeking to move to a higher league.

"I am continuing my push to play in some of the top leagues in Europe and Ethnikos have offered me a good opportunity," Atiku told Ghanasoccernet.

"This is a huge opportunity for me and I am working hard to make full use of the chance to help bring the club back to the top league.

"I expect the task to be tough but I am tougher and I am certain we will prevail."

Ethinkos have signed Atiku to help them in their push to regain promotion to the top flight.

The Athens club are the arch rivals of giants Olympiakos but were relegated from the top flight and they seeking a return.

Atiku is keen on using the opportunity to force his way back into the Ghana national team after two years in international wilderness. 

The midfielder joined Assyriska in Sweden's top league four years ago but were relegated two times in as many years. 

  
He also had a short stint with Hapoel Pektah Tikvah of Israel in 2002.

Atiku was one of Ghana's key players at the U-17 World Cup in New Zealand in 1999 along with Michael Essien and Stephen Tetteh and Ishamel Addo.