KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - One Knoxville SC on Friday announced the signing of 26-year-old Greek forward Stavros Zarokostas. After making his debut for One Knox last Saturday, Zarokostas became only the second Greek player to appear in USL League One and the first since Chattanooga's Nikolaos Pettas in 2020.

The Leonidio, Greece native played collegiately in the United States at the University of Rhode Island from 2016-19. With the Rams, Zarokostas was named the 2016 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection. Zarokostas finished his Rhode Island career ranked 12th in program history with 73 total points (28 goals, 17 assists).

During college, Zarokostas played with NPSL side Rhode Island Reds FC before being drafted with the 63rd overall selection in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. The forward made his professional debut in the USL Championship with the Charleston Battery in 2020 and went on to tally eight goals and three assists through a pair of seasons with the Battery.

In 2022, Zarokostas signed with Finnish Veikkausliiga side FC Haka. In two seasons and 58 appearances with Haka, Zarokostas recorded 13 goals and seven assists across Veikkausliiga, Liigacup and UEFA Conference League qualification play.

In 2024, Zarokostas returned to his native Greece with Egaleo FC and made five Super League Greece 2 appearances for the club his grandfather had previously played for.

"I'm really excited to join the club and continue to build relationships with everyone involved,” Zarokostas said. "I hope I can make an immediate impact and contribute to the club's success."

"Stavros is an exciting addition," said Knoxville Head Coach Mark McKeever. "With his education with the New York Red Bulls and Charleston Battery in the USL Championship, he is a player that can impact immediately.

"His pace and versatility to play inside or outside allows us more availability with attacking options which we have struggled with through the first part of the season. [He] has a blue-collar mentality which can also have a massive impact on us as we press and or move in transition on both sides of the ball. Extremely excited to see what he can provide for the club!"