KLAIDI LOLOS

Born: 06 October 2000

Came from: Trainee   Went to: Released

First game: 17 August 2019   Last game: 09 May 2021

Appearances: 16 (3/13)   Goals: 1

Born in Greece, Lolos started his football journey at Olympiakos at the age of nine. Moving to the United Kingdom, he attended school in Barnet and then had trials at Liverpool, Norwich, and Reading before choosing a two-year academy contract with Crystal Palace, until he was 16.

After leaving Palace he had a trial at Birmingham City, where he was spotted by Kevin Hodges and Chris Harrison whilst playing in an under-18 friendly against Argyle. He was invited for a trial at Home Park during the 2017-18 pre-season, and after impressing the coaches, earned himself an apprenticeship, which he signed in September 2017.

In 2017-18 the young striker played a significant part in the club's successful FA Youth Cup run, and also had exposure to men’s football in the Peninsula League. In May 2018, still only 16, Lolos was named as a substitute for the first team's last game of the season.

In July 2019 he signed his first professional contract at Home Park and featured significantly in Argyle's pre-season games under new manager Ryan Lowe. He was named on the bench for the first match of the season and made his Football League debut as an 84th minute substitute a fortnight later, with his first start coming in early September.

Lolos also won international recognition: in February 2019, having previously been invited to international training camps, he scored his first goal for the Greece under-19 team, in a 2-0 friendly win against Romania.

In November 2019 he joined Dorchester Town on a two-month loan deal, scoring four goals in nine games for the Magpies. Back at Home Park, in September 2020 he scored his first and only goal for the senior side in an EFL Trophy tie against Norwich City under-21s.

He was then loaned to Chippenham Town for one month in December 2020, but was was sent off in his first and only game for the club and the loan was not extended. He was then released by Argyle at the end of the 2020-21 season, having made a total of 16 appearances (of which only three were starts) and scoring that single goal.

In July 2021 he was announced as a new signing for Torquay United, but was released by the club after one season (28 games, two goals). The following season he joined Oxford City in the National League South, having spent time with the club on trial. It was a successful spell; he scored 16 times in 35 matches as City were promoted to the National League for the first time in their history.

This brought Lolos back into the focus of EFL clubs, and in July 2023 he was given another chance of League football by signing for fourth tier Crawley Town on a two-year contract. His spell in West Sussex and his return to the EFL was successful as he scored 13 goals in 46 games, before moving to third tier Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal in June 2024.