Vasilis Barkas is a solid figure between the goalposts, currently plying his trade with FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie. His talent has been appreciated since a tender age as he was born into a football-crazy nation, the Netherlands, on May 30, 1994. Towering at a height of 6ft 5in (1.96m) and boasting a sturdy weight of 13st 5lb (85kg), Barkas wears the number 1 jersey with fitting distinction.
Barkas's journey into the professional football world began with Atromitos in the Super League in Greece, where he joined as a trainee in July 2006. His breakout season arrived nearly a decade later in the 2015-2016 season, where he kept guard on the goal line for 12 league matches. Subsequently, he was transferred to AEK Athens in July 2016, where his stock continued to rise. Over four seasons there, he featured in an impressive total of 79 league matches.
His impressive progression drew the attention of Scottish giants Celtic. A transfer sum of approximately £5m secured his services for the Hoops in July 2020. Much was expected of Barkas in the green and white jersey. However, his time at Celtic Park was fraught with inconsistencies. In his first season (2020-2021), Barkas was featured in 15 league matches. The subsequent season (2021-2022) proved more challenging for the goalkeeper as he could only manage to feature in a singular league outing.
His somewhat troublesome spell at Celtic concluded in July 2022 when he secured a loan move to FC Utrecht. Upon the expiry of his loan in July 2023, Barkas eventually completed a permanent move to the Dutch outfit. As a stalwart in front of the sticks, he has started in more than 100 league matches for the club over four seasons. As of the 2025-2026 season, he has already made ten appearances.
Barkas's skills have also been put to the test in the 2025 - 2026 Europa League Qualifiers and the main tournament itself, with six and three starts respectively for FC Utrecht. As per Transfermarkt, his ongoing market value sits at around £3m. Despite the ups and downs throughout his career, Barkas has continually showcased why he is a player of undeniable ability and resolve.
