1. Overview
Dimitrios Pelkas (Δημήτριος ΠέλκαςDimitrios PelkasGreek, Modern; born October 26, 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who primarily plays as an attacking midfielder but can also operate as a forward. He currently plays for Super League club PAOK and represents the Greece national team. Pelkas began his youth career at PAOK, making his senior debut with the club in 2012. His career has seen him feature in two separate stints with PAOK, along with loan spells at Apollon Kalamarias and Vitória Setúbal. He also played for Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, had a loan period at English club Hull City, and played for İstanbul Başakşehir. Pelkas has achieved significant club success, including winning the Super League Greece title and multiple Greek Cups with PAOK. He has also been a regular for the Greece national team, having progressed through various youth levels before becoming a senior international.
2. Early life and career start
Dimitrios Pelkas was born on October 26, 1993, in Giannitsa, Greece. His foundational years in football were spent in the youth academy of PAOK, where he trained and developed from 2007 until his professional promotion in 2012.
Pelkas made his professional club debut on August 2, 2012, in a UEFA Europa League fixture against Bnei Yehuda, coming on as a substitute for Apostolos Giannou. He scored his first professional goal in the return leg of that tie against Bnei Yehuda, contributing to a convincing 4-1 home victory for PAOK. His league debut in the Super League followed on September 3, 2012, in a match against Atromitos.
3. Club career
Dimitrios Pelkas' professional club career showcases his journey through various teams in Greece, Portugal, Turkey, and England, marked by consistent progression and significant contributions to his respective clubs.
3.1. PAOK (2012-2020)
Pelkas spent his formative professional years at PAOK, where he established himself as a key player after returning from initial loan spells. During his first long tenure, he made 125 league appearances, scoring 21 goals, and recorded a total of 198 appearances with 44 goals across all competitions.
On July 27, 2015, Pelkas signed a new contract with PAOK, securing his presence at the Toumba Stadium until 2018. His strong performances subsequently drew attention from several clubs, notably Sporting CP, who were reportedly interested in acquiring him for an initial fee of 1.50 M EUR, despite his release clause being set at 5.00 M EUR.
His first Super League goal of the 2015-16 season came on October 18, 2015, in a 3-3 away draw against Iraklis. On February 21, 2016, he scored against rivals Panathinaikos, contributing to a 2-2 away draw. Just a week later, on February 27, 2016, he opened the scoring in a 2-0 home Super League win against Asteras Tripolis.
For the 2016-17 season, Pelkas scored his first goal on December 8, 2016, in a crucial 2-0 home UEFA Europa League victory against Slovan Liberec, which ensured PAOK's advancement to the next round. On September 20, 2017, he was recognized as the man of the match in a Greek Cup game against Levadiakos, where he missed a penalty but quickly redeemed himself with a terrific goal.
Pelkas agreed to a contract extension with PAOK on September 29, 2017, committing to the club until the summer of 2021. The following day, September 30, 2017, he reached the milestone of 100 appearances for PAOK across all competitions. His first goal of the 2017-18 season was scored on August 27, 2017, in a 3-1 home game against Kerkyra. He further contributed on October 15, 2017, by scoring in a 4-0 home win against Lamia. He continued his goal-scoring form with a brace on December 10, 2017, in a dominant 4-0 home victory against Panathinaikos.
In 2018, Pelkas scored in a 3-0 away win against Kerkyra on January 14. On February 3, he opened the scoring in a crucial 3-1 away victory against PAS Giannina, a result that maintained PAOK's first-place position in the Super League during their 2017-18 title challenge. On February 17, he opened the scoring in the 56th minute following a superb passing exchange between Robert Mak, Maurício, and Diego Biseswar, securing another 2-0 win against Lamia for Răzvan Lucescu's team. This victory was part of PAOK's remarkable 14-game winning streak across all competitions, which led to them being recognized as the world's top-ranked team in terms of current form.
On May 12, 2018, Pelkas' late tap-in helped PAOK overcome AEK Athens in a 2-0 victory in the Greek Cup final at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. This win allowed PAOK to retain the Greek Cup and prevented AEK from achieving a domestic double.

On August 8, 2018, Pelkas scored in a 3-2 home win in the UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round against Spartak Moscow, converting a pass after an assist from José Ángel Crespo and Léo Matos. On October 4, 2018, he found the net again after an assist from Léo Jabá in an emphatic 4-1 away win against BATE Borisov in Belarus during the UEFA Europa League Group stage. On February 18, 2019, Pelkas opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a header from a free-kick by captain Vieirinha in a commanding 5-1 away win against Apollon Smyrnis, as PAOK pushed for their first league title in 34 years. On April 14, 2019, Pelkas capitalized on a poor clearance from Nikola Jakimovski, returning the ball into the top left corner of Ögmundur Kristinsson's net, opening the scoring in a 1-1 away draw against AEL.
At the beginning of the 2019-20 season, Pelkas was one of PAOK's most experienced players, having made a total of 176 appearances, scoring 36 goals and providing 29 assists for the Greek champions. He played a crucial role in PAOK's quest for the double in the previous season. He maintained his role as a consistent starter under the newly appointed Portuguese manager Abel Ferreira. Although Pelkas is most comfortable as an attacking midfielder, he was frequently deployed as a second striker behind either Chuba Akpom or Karol Świderski.
On March 4, 2020, he scored a brace, helping PAOK complete an incredible Greek Cup comeback from 2-0 down to beat Olympiacos 3-2 in the first leg of the semi-final at home. His performance in this match was recognized by EA Sports, earning him a FIFA 20 Man of the Match (MOTM) item for the FIFA Ultimate Team game mode. This special commemorative card increased his in-game rating to 81 overall. Pelkas was the sixth Super League player that season to receive such a commemorative card.
In the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round, Pelkas scored against Beşiktaş on August 25, 2020, following an assist from Christos Tzolis. On September 22, 2020, in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs against Krasnodar, Pelkas scored by flicking Andrija Živković's ball past Matvei Safonov, although PAOK ultimately lost 2-1 away.
3.1.1. Loan spells (2013-2015)
Dimitrios Pelkas experienced two loan spells early in his career to gain more playing time and develop his skills, which proved crucial for his progression.
3.2. Fenerbahçe (2020-2023)
On October 5, 2020, Dimitrios Pelkas completed a transfer to Turkish club Fenerbahçe. He signed a three-year contract, with an option to extend for an additional year. The transfer fee paid to PAOK was approximately 1.60 M EUR. As part of the deal, Pelkas' annual earnings at Fenerbahçe were set at 1.20 M EUR, and PAOK retained a 20% sell-on clause for any future transfer.
Pelkas made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut for Fenerbahçe on October 18, 2020, after an assist from Ozan Tufan, sealing a 3-2 away victory against Göztepe. On February 28, 2021, Fenerbahçe secured a crucial victory against Trabzonspor thanks to a spectacular long-range shot by Pelkas in the 76th minute, boosting his club's efforts in the championship race. He scored another winning goal on April 18, 2021, converting Ozan Tufan's left-wing cross in the penalty area during a 2-1 away win against İstanbul Başakşehir.
During the initial months of the 2021-22 season, there were reports in the Turkish media suggesting that Pelkas might leave Fenerbahçe, possibly due to the tactical plans of his coach, Vítor Pereira. However, Pelkas scored his first goal of the 2021-22 season on December 26, 2021, coming on as a substitute for İrfan Kahveci and sealing a 2-0 victory over Yeni Malatyaspor with a skillful slalom in the 73rd minute.
In January 2022, Turkish media indicated that Fenerbahçe was considering proposals for Pelkas, with offers reportedly coming from Russia, Italy, and Greece, though no specific Greek club was named. While his 2020-21 season saw him score eight goals and provide seven assists in 34 appearances, his 2021-22 season had been less productive, with only one goal and no assists in 19 games, totaling 749 minutes of play. On February 12, 2022, he scored to seal a 2-1 away win against Giresunspor, ending a six-game winless streak for Fenerbahçe. On February 17, 2022, he scored after an assist from Ferdi Kadıoğlu in a 3-2 home loss against Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa Conference League. On March 20, 2022, Pelkas' well-executed fake right shot in the 88th minute helped his club secure a 2-1 victory over Konyaspor.
3.2.1. Loan to Hull City (2022-2023)
On September 1, 2022, Dimitrios Pelkas joined English Championship club Hull City on a season-long loan spell from Fenerbahçe. He made his debut on September 4, 2022, coming off the bench in the 77th minute as a substitute for Ozan Tufan in a 2-0 home loss to Sheffield United. Pelkas scored his first goal for Hull City on October 5, 2022, opening the scoring in a 2-1 home win against Wigan Athletic. Overall, he made 26 appearances and scored 2 goals during his loan period with Hull City.
3.3. İstanbul Başakşehir (2023-2025)
After his contract with Fenerbahçe ended, Dimitrios Pelkas joined İstanbul Başakşehir on July 21, 2023, as a free transfer. He signed a one-year deal with an option to extend for another year. During his tenure with İstanbul Başakşehir, he made 23 league appearances and scored 6 goals in the 2023-24 Süper Lig season. He also played in 2 Turkish Cup matches, scoring 1 goal. In the 2024-25 season, he made 11 appearances and scored 2 goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
3.4. PAOK (2025-present)
Dimitrios Pelkas made his return to his beloved club PAOK on January 24, 2025, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. This marked his second stint with the club after a four-year period during which he played for Fenerbahçe, Hull City, and İstanbul Başakşehir. He was released from İstanbul Başakşehir to rejoin PAOK. Since his return, he has made 3 league appearances and scored 1 goal for PAOK in the 2024-25 Super League Greece season.
4. International career
Dimitrios Pelkas has represented Greece at various youth and senior levels. He played for the Greece U-19 team (3 appearances), the Greece U-20 team (3 appearances), and the Greece U-21 team (5 appearances). He was also part of the Greece squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
On October 2, 2015, interim Greece coach Kostas Tsanas called up Pelkas for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Northern Ireland and Hungary. Pelkas expressed his excitement, stating, "All players dream of someday representing their country and I am happy for this opportunity. It is an honour for me." He made his senior international debut on October 7, 2015, coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 away loss against Northern Ireland.
Pelkas scored his first goal for the Greece national team on October 9, 2021, with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, securing a vital 2-0 away win against Georgia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. His second international goal came on September 27, 2022, against Northern Ireland in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League C, contributing to a 3-1 home victory. He scored his third international goal on September 10, 2023, against Gibraltar in a 5-0 home win during the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification. His fourth international goal was scored on March 21, 2024, also in a 5-0 home win against Kazakhstan in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification play-offs. As of September 10, 2023, he had made 34 appearances and scored 3 goals for the senior Greece national team, with the most recent statistics confirming 4 goals.
5. Personal life
Dimitrios Pelkas has a cousin, Vasilios Pelkas, who is also a professional footballer.
6. Career statistics
This section presents comprehensive statistical data for Dimitrios Pelkas' club and international career, including appearances and goals.
6.1. Club
The following table details Dimitrios Pelkas' club career statistics as of February 9, 2025.
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
PAOK | 2012-13 | Super League Greece | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 3 | 1 | 16 | 1 | |
2015-16 | 32 | 4 | 7 | 3 | - | 10 | 2 | 49 | 9 | |||
2016-17 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 3 | - | 4 | 1 | 26 | 7 | |||
2017-18 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 4 | - | 3 | 0 | 36 | 12 | |||
2018-19 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | 11 | 2 | 36 | 6 | |||
2019-20 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - | 4 | 0 | 27 | 7 | |||
2020-21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | |||
Total | 125 | 21 | 34 | 15 | - | 39 | 8 | 198 | 44 | |||
Apollon Kalamarias (loan) | 2013-14 | Football League Greece | 17 | 7 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 7 | ||
Vitória Setúbal (loan) | 2014-15 | Primeira Liga | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | - | 30 | 4 | |
Fenerbahçe | 2020-21 | Süper Lig | 32 | 7 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 34 | 8 | ||
2021-22 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | 33 | 5 | |||
Total | 55 | 11 | 4 | 1 | - | 8 | 1 | 67 | 13 | |||
Hull City (loan) | 2022-23 | Championship | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 26 | 2 | |
İstanbul Başakşehir | 2023-24 | Süper Lig | 23 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 25 | 7 | ||
2024-25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 11 | 2 | 22 | 2 | |||
PAOK | 2024-25 | Super League Greece | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
Career total | 284 | 50 | 42 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 58 | 11 | 388 | 80 |
6.2. International
The following table lists Dimitrios Pelkas' international goals and statistics for the Greece national team.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | October 9, 2021 | Batumi Stadium, Batumi, Georgia | Georgia | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2 | September 27, 2022 | Georgios Kamaras Stadium, Athens, Greece | Northern Ireland | 1-0 | 3-1 | 2022-23 UEFA Nations League C |
3 | September 10, 2023 | Agia Sophia Stadium, Athens, Greece | Gibraltar | 1-0 | 5-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
4 | March 21, 2024 | Kazakhstan | 2-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
7. Honours
Dimitrios Pelkas has achieved several significant honours throughout his professional football career, primarily with PAOK.
PAOK
- Super League Greece: 2018-19
- Greek Cup: 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19