Brighton Signs Teenage Forward Kostoulas from Champions League-Bound Olympiakos 

Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)
Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)
TT

Brighton Signs Teenage Forward Kostoulas from Champions League-Bound Olympiakos 

Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)
Olympiacos' Charalampos Kostoulas, right, in action during the Youth League Final against AC Milan at the Colovray Sports Center in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, file)

Brighton has signed teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas, who gave up a Champions League season with Olympiakos to play in the Premier League.

The 18-year-old Kostoulas signed a five-year contract, Brighton said, with the transfer fee reportedly set at an initial 35 million euros ($40.4 million).

“It is a dream for everybody to come here and play football,” the Greece Under-21 striker said in an interview published Friday by Brighton.

He scored seven goals in 22 games in the Greek league as Olympiakos won a record-extending 48th title and completed a trophy double in the domestic cup.

Olympiakos was elevated directly into the lucrative Champions League opening phase because title-holder Paris Saint-Germain already secured a place by winning the French league and will play eight games in the single-standings league.

Brighton finished eighth in the Premier League and did not qualify for European soccer.

Kostoulas was the central striker in Olympiakos’ Under-19 team that won the 2024 UEFA Youth League, one month before the senior team won the Conference League.



Red Bull: Longtime F1 Team Principal Horner Released from Duties

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
TT

Red Bull: Longtime F1 Team Principal Horner Released from Duties

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner attends a news conference at the Silverstone racetrack, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull said Wednesday that Christian Horner has been released from his role as longtime team principal of its Formula 1 team.

Red Bull did not give a reason for the decision in a statement, but thanked Horner for his work and said he will “forever remain an important part of our team history.”

Laurent Mekies of sister team Racing Bulls will replace Horner in his role as team principal and chief executive of the racing team.

Horner had been Red Bull team principal since it entered F1 as a full constructor in 2005. He had performed his team and media duties as normal throughout the British Grand Prix last week.

Horner oversaw eight F1 drivers’ titles — four for Sebastian Vettel and four for Max Verstappen — and six constructors’ titles during his time with the team.

But McLaren has dominated this season in F1, while Red Bull’s performance has dipped, though Verstappen remains third in the standings and the team is fourth.

Horner spent much of last week fielding questions over Verstappen’s future at the team after the Dutch driver declined to commit to stay with Red Bull for 2026.

“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s chief executive for corporate projects and investments said in a statement.

“With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”

The announcement comes more than a year after Horner was accused of misconduct toward a team employee.

An investigation conducted on behalf of the Red Bull company dismissed the allegation, as did a further investigation conducted after the employee appealed against the initial ruling, Red Bull said at the time.

Horner remained in charge of the F1 team throughout the entire process.